U.S. announces $250M aid package for Ukraine

The Biden administration today announced a $250 million security assistance package for Ukraine -- the final one for 2023 -- including additional air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons and other equipment, valued at $250 million.

The capabilities in the package, funded via presidential drawdown authority, include:

• Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS);
• Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;
• Air defense system components;
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;
• Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• More than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition;
• Demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing;
• Spare parts, medical equipment, maintenance, and other ancillary equipment.

A $106 billion national security supplemental spending package remains stalled as Congress has adjourned until January.

"Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security," the Defense Department said in a statement issued today. "It deters potential aggression elsewhere in the world, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people. It remains critical that Congress takes action as soon as possible in the new year on the president's national security supplemental request to ensure that our support for Ukraine can continue, and Ukraine is able to defend itself against Russia's ongoing attacks and consolidate and extend its battlefield gains."