Biden announces $325M aid package for Ukraine 

President Biden today announced a $325 million security assistance package for Ukraine that will transfer additional air defense systems and munitions directly from U.S. stocks, according to the Pentagon.

The package, funded via presidential “drawdown” authority and coincides with the Washington visits of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, includes:

• AIM-9M missiles;
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• Avenger air defense systems;
• .50 caliber machine guns to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems;
• 155mm artillery rounds, including the Dual-purposed improved conventional munitions;
• 105mm artillery rounds;
• Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• Over three million rounds of small arms ammunition;
• 59 light tactical vehicles;
• Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and
• Spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment.

The announcement is the 47th tranche of equipment the Biden administration has provided Ukraine since August 2021.

“This package includes additional capabilities to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses as it faces brutal aerial assaults from Russia, dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) which are helping Ukraine on the battlefield, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment to meet Ukraine’s critical needs and to help Ukraine counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression,” the Pentagon said.