Ukraine Army expresses gratitude to U.S. following additional $270M defense aid announcement
That’s according to the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports.
“The Department of Defense (DoD) announced $270 million in additional security assistance for Ukraine. This includes President Biden’s announcement of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $175 million, as well as $95 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds,” the statement reads, referring to Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Todd Breasseale.
The Presidential Drawdown is the sixteenth such drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine that the Joe Biden Administration has authorized since August 2021. Capabilities in this package include additional quantities of weapons systems and equipment that Ukrainians “have been using so effectively on the battlefield to defend their country.”
The package includes four additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and additional ammunition for HIMARS; four Command Post Vehicles; 36,000 rounds of 105mm ammunition; additional anti-armor weapons, spare parts, and other equipment.
Under USAI, the DoD will also provide Ukraine with up to 580 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Unlike Presidential Drawdown, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry rather than delivering equipment that is drawn down from DoD stocks. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional capabilities to Ukraine's Armed Forces.
The United States has now committed approximately $8.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration. The United States continues to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its evolving battlefield requirements.
