US to send $100M in additional military aid to Ukraine

Mychael Schnell
The Hill
Tue, 05 Apr 2022 10:33 UTC

© Ukraine Ministry of Defense

US military aid to Ukraine

The U.S. is sending up to $100 million in additional military aid to Ukraine as Russia's invasion of the country continues.

The State Department and Pentagon announced the military funding in statements Tuesday evening. The money will go toward Javelin anti-armor systems, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he authorized an immediate drawdown to address Ukraine's need for more anti-armor systems. Drawdowns allow the president to help countries during emergencies without needing approval from a legislative authority or budgetary appropriations, according to a Defense Department handbook.

Tuesday night's drawdown marks the sixth such allocation the U.S. has made for Ukraine since August, according to Blinken. The U.S. has provided Ukraine with more than $1.7 billion since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in late February. He said in a statement:

"​​I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation from the President earlier today, the immediate drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $100 million to meet Ukraine's urgent need for additional anti-armor systems.

"The world has been shocked and appalled by the atrocities committed by Russia's forces in Bucha and across Ukraine. Ukraine's forces bravely continue to defend their country and their freedom, and the United States, along with our Allies and partners, stand steadfast in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The announcement of additional military aid comes after the U.S. and its allies condemned images of bodies on the streets of Bucha, a Ukrainian town northwest of Kyiv. One person was photographed with their hands tied behind their back with a white cloth.

President Biden on Monday said he believes Russia committed war crimes in Bucha, and on Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that the administration will unveil additional sanctions against Moscow in response to the killings in the Kyiv suburb.

Comment: The pile on of military supplies seems to have no end:

Czechia has provided Ukraine with tanks for use in its ongoing conflict with Russia, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, on Tuesday.

The Central European nation has also reportedly supplied Kiev with howitzer artillery pieces and Soviet-made BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. The supplies have been funded by the Prague government and some private donors, who joined a state-backed crowdfunding campaign.

Western nations have been supplying Ukraine with weapons, ammunition and fuel since shortly after the start of the Russian military attack, in late February. Most deliveries to date have included portable anti-tank and anti-air missiles, as well as small arms.

Australia said earlier this week it has been flying Bushmaster armored vehicles to Europe, destined for use by Kiev's forces. German media also earlier reported that Berlin had approved the delivery of self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine by a number of other NATO members.

Some NATO states, such as Slovenia, have virtually depleted their own supplies. Now, its prime minister, Janez Jansa, says his nation's Western allies are in no rush to replenish these stocks.

"Unfortunately, our reserves are depleted and now we are trying to replace equipment... with new deliveries from US.

"If the war is going to get longer and longer, the war equipment that is being damaged needs to get serviced. Ukrainian repair houses are 100% busy, and they are asking other nearby allies to help them with repairs."

Earlier, Russia warned that it would consider arms deliveries to Ukraine as legitimate military targets but Moscow hasn't targeted any arms convoys outside of Ukrainian territory so far. It has not commented on a potential response to NATO states providing equipment repair facilities to Ukraine.

The MIC must be having one helluva field day as the war thickens and the usual hands-off countries continue relinquishing their dispensable military equipment to Ukraine.