The U.S. has approved sending an additional $200 million in military equipment in Ukraine, in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the latest security aid package on Saturday, which is now the fourth such drawdown of U.S defense stocks to support Ukrainian resistance efforts.
“This package will include further defensive assistance to help Ukraine meet the armored, airborne, and other threats it is facing,” Blinken said in a statement.
Blinken did not specify the equipment covered in the latest assistance package, while media reports have indicated the impending shipments will include another round of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
The latest equipment package will bring the U.S.’ total security assistance to Ukraine up to $1.2 billion since the start of the Biden administration, according to Blinken.
Congress on March 11 passed the $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2022 omnibus spending package, which included $13.6 billion for emergency aid to Ukraine (Defense Daily, March 11).
The supplemental for Ukraine aid covered $6.5 billion for Department of Defense efforts, including $3 billion for “European Command operations mission support, the deployment of personnel to the region, and intelligence support” and $3.5 billion to replenish defense stocks for equipment provided to Ukraine.
The supplemental bill also includes $650 million for the State Department’s Foreign Military Financing program “to provide additional support for Ukraine and countries affected by the situation in Ukraine, including NATO Eastern flank countries and other partners in the region, to build their capacity and deter further Russian aggression,” according to the House Appropriations Committee.