Politico: White House allocates $200M in security assistance to Ukraine

“In late December, the Biden administration quietly authorized an additional $200 million in security assistance to Ukraine. The security package authorized the shipment of much of the same defensive equipment the US has provided in the past, including small arms and ammunition, secure radios, medical equipment, spare parts and other equipment,” Politico informs.

The $200 million was approved as part of President Joe Biden’s authority, which empowers him to have the secretary of State ask the secretary of Defense to deliver items from existing Pentagon stock to a country in peril. The president’s team is then required to tell Congress “that an unforeseen emergency required immediate military assistance”.

“We have been providing defensive assistance to Ukraine, including through deliveries that have taken place in just the last few weeks. We will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead through a range of mechanisms, including the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative,” a State Department spokesperson told Politico.

The media outlet was told in Kyiv that the United States would send radar systems and some maritime equipment, though it was unclear when the first deliveries would be made.

As noted, this isn’t the first time Biden has used his authority. In August, he committed the United States to send $60 million in military aid to Kyiv shortly ahead of a meeting with Zelensky. Part of that tranche, including small arms and ammo, were delivered to Ukraine last month.

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