DOD transferring additional $675M in weapons to Ukraine

The Defense Department announced today that it intends to transfer $657 million in military aid to Ukraine, including additional long-range artillery and munitions to help the country defend itself from Russia's ongoing invasion.

The assistance, which is being offered via presidential “drawdown” authority, will provide Ukraine with: additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems; four 105 mm Howitzers and 36,000 105 mm artillery rounds; additional High-speed Anti-radiation missiles; 100 humvees; 1.5 million rounds of small arms ammunition; more than 5,000 anti-armor systems; 1,000 155 mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine systems; additional grenade launchers and small arms; 50 armored medical treatment vehicles; night vision devices and other field equipment.

All the weapons are coming directly from U.S. stocks, according to DOD.

Along with the DOD aid, the State Department has notified Congress of the Biden administration’s intent to make $2 billion available in “long-term investments in Foreign Military Financing,” which includes $1 billion for Ukraine and $1 billion to be divided among 18 of Ukraine’s regional neighbors.

“In total, the United States has committed approximately $15.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021,” DOD said in a statement. “Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $17.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine and more than $14.5 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24.”

The White House last week sent Congress a proposal for a stopgap continuing resolution that would put $4.5 billion toward “equipment for Ukraine” and “replenishment of Department of Defense stocks,” while another $2.7 billion would be used for “continued military, intelligence and other defense support.” The CR proposal states $3 billion would specifically be put toward the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to buy new weapons for Kyiv over a period of months and years.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said Wednesday that he expects Congress to pass a CR that contains more emergency military aid for Ukraine.

“There is a surprising and encouraging unity when it comes to the issue of supporting Ukraine,” he said.