WASHINGTON and LONDON — The President Joe Biden he announced on Monday United States would offer nearly $2.5 billion in defense aid to Ukraine, bringing an “immediate flow of capabilities” as the country defends itself against Russian aggression.
“Under my leadership, the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war during my remaining time in office,” Biden said. a statement.
The aid will complement $1.25 billion withdrawn for Ukraine’s military and $1.22 billion authorized through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, according to Biden. The department has now used all funds appropriated by Congress under that initiative, he added.
Ahead of the announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the aid would be “significant” for forces fighting the Russian invasion.
“This support is critical to stabilizing the front lines – every additional supply from our partners is meant to save more of our soldier’s lives,” he said on Sunday. “We are also working to ensure that the other partners maintain their support at the required level.”
The new aid packages are expected to help Ukraine’s military in its ongoing battlefield efforts, “along with the provision of longer-term air defense, artillery and other critical weapons systems,” Biden said.
The President added, “He has directed my Administration to continue increasing aid to Ukraine as quickly as possible, including withdrawing older. US equipment for Ukraine, deliver it quickly to the battlefield, and then revitalize the US defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons.”
The US Department of Defense will deliver hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets and hundreds of armored vehicles to Ukraine, Biden said, “which will strengthen Ukraine’s hand heading into the winter.”
