The United States has announced a $988 million aid package to supply Ukraine with new arms and equipment to strengthen its defence against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The package, revealed on Saturday, allocates nearly half of the remaining $2.21 billion in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), focusing on procuring weapons directly from manufacturers rather than drawing from existing US military stockpiles.
According to the Pentagon, the funds will be used to purchase ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), drones, and spare parts to maintain artillery systems. The announcement coincided with the annual Reagan National Defence Forum in California, which brings together defence industry leaders and policymakers.
The USAI funding operates independently of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a mechanism allowing President Joe Biden to expedite the transfer of excess weapons and services from US military stockpiles during emergencies without requiring congressional approval.
The Biden administration still has approximately $6 billion in available drawdown authority, including funds for 2024 and amounts reassessed by the Pentagon after overestimating previous arms shipments to Ukraine.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the United States has committed over $62 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, underscoring its ongoing support for the embattled nation.
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