Ukrainian army soldiers sit on an armour military vehicle as they drive in Bucha, near in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Emilio Morenatti/AP

Biden administration approves another $675 million in weapons to Ukraine

Katherine Doyle September 08, 11:47 AMSeptember 08, 11:50 AM Video Embed

The Department of Defense said on Thursday there would be a new military aid package to Ukraine valued at roughly $675 million.

The package of additional arms, munitions, and equipment comes from a presidential drawdown authorization, which means the weapons come straight from U.S. stockpiles.

This latest drawdown includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, four 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds, additional High-speed Anti-radiation missiles, 100 Armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, 1.5 million rounds of small arms ammunition, more than 5,000 anti-armor systems, 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems, additional grenade launchers and small arms, 50 armored medical treatment vehicles, and night vision devices and other field equipment.

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“Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $675 million to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “This authorization is the Biden Administration’s twentieth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.”

America has now given more than $14.5 billion since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the drawdown during a meeting in Kyiv on Thursday as part of an unscheduled stop in which he announced major new aid commitments to Ukraine and other countries threatened by Russia.

“Ukraine’s extraordinary front-line defenders continue to courageously fight for their country’s freedom, and President Biden has been clear we will support the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes,” the secretary of state said. “I reiterated this message to President Zelenskyy and his team today in Kyiv, which remains, and will remain, the capital of a sovereign, independent Ukraine.”

The Biden administration has notified Congress of its intent to make a further $2.2 billion in long-term military financing available to Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors, including NATO countries, “potentially at risk of future Russian aggression,” Blinken said.

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According to the Pentagon, this includes $1 billion to bolster the security of Ukraine and $1 billion for 18 of Ukraine’s regional neighbors.

The Biden administration has now committed approximately $15.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since President Joe Biden was inaugurated.

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