The Pentagon is sending another aid package to Ukraine, valued at $300 million.
The package includes “capabilities to support Ukraine’s immediate air defense, artillery, and anti-tank requirements,” according to Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.
“In terms of the impact on Ukraine, it will give them some much needed capability that will likely last in the weeks timeframe, but nowhere even close to what they need to be able to continue to sustain this fight, which is why we’ll continue to work very closely with Congress to get the funding that we need to be able to support Ukraine in the way they need to be supported,” he said.
The package is the U.S.’s 55th tranche of assistance to Ukraine since its conflict with Russia began.
During another press briefing, a Defense Department official said the millions being poured into Ukraine is “putting our own readiness at some risk.”
“Many of you know we have basically exhausted our funding to assist Ukraine,” said a senior defense official, adding, “The last supplemental we got was December of 2022, so 15 months now since we’ve gotten any — any money to help Ukraine with. Given that the secretary has expressed his concerns about doing any more drawdowns because it — you know, we have the ability to move funds out of our stocks, but without the ability to replenish them, we are — we are putting our own readiness at — at some risk.”
The European Union (E.U.) also announced €5 billion ($5.5 billion) in military aid.
“This is yet another powerful and timely demonstration of European unity and determination in achieving our common victory,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, according to Reuters. “We look forward to the final decision being approved at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell similarly shared on social media, “The Fund will allow us to step up our military support to #Ukraine with another €5 billion. The message is clear: we will support #Ukraine with whatever it takes to prevail.”
