(Patriot.Buzz) – In a move aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s forces, the United States is escalating its military support to the European country with a $175 million package, a crucial move amidst the ongoing conflict with Russian forces.
This package includes advanced guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems, and high-speed anti-radiation missiles. This aid is critical as Congress is yet to pass legislation providing further funding for Ukraine’s defense efforts, as well as for Israel’s security needs in its war against Hamas.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgency of Congressional action, stating that without additional funding, this might be one of the final security assistance packages the U.S. can offer Ukraine.
The White House advocates for nearly $106 billion in support. However, the bill is entangled in complex negotiations over concerns about U.S. border security and growing hesitancy among Republican lawmakers to continue funding the Ukraine war at significant levels.
In an effort to influence the deadlock, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had planned to address U.S. senators via video but had to cancel, as informed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
This latest tranche of military aid will be dispatched through presidential drawdown authority (PDA), which enables the rapid deployment of weapons from U.S. stockpiles to the frontline.
According to Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, there remains approximately $1.1 billion for replenishing U.S. military stockpiles and about $4.8 billion in drawdown authority for further assistance to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to discuss ongoing and future support. Despite wintry conditions which have made the warfront relatively static, both Ukraine and Russia continue to engage in airstrikes. Ukraine aims to maintain pressure throughout the winter to prevent Russia from fortifying its position.
The new aid package also includes AIM-9M and AIM-7 missiles for air defense, artillery rounds, vehicle towing equipment, demolition munitions, and over 4 million rounds of ammunition. To date, the U.S. has committed over $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
