Biden unveils a $225 million military assistance package for Ukraine.
President Biden Announces New Military Aid for Ukraine at NATO Summit. During the NATO summit in Washington on Thursday, President Joe Biden revealed a substantial military aid package for Ukraine, amounting to $225 million. This announcement came during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The aid package, utilizing the Presidential Drawdown Authority, aims to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian forces. Key components of the package include a Patriot missile battery, munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the support but emphasized the need for “quick steps” to lift existing limitations on how Ukrainian soldiers can utilize U.S. weaponry. His comments highlight ongoing discussions about the restrictions placed on the deployment of Western-supplied arms. On Wednesday, he had conveyed optimism about gaining more autonomy in using these weapons to target Russian positions, a request consistently voiced by Ukrainian officials. While visiting Capitol Hill, Zelenskyy met with key congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Johnson articulated Congress’s intention to grant flexibility to Ukraine in employing the provided weapons effectively during the conflict. Jeffries described the discussions with Zelenskyy as “very positive,” reiterating strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
On the military front, Ukraine’s armed forces reported Russian attacks in the Sumy region involving two ballistic missiles overnight. However, Ukraine’s air defense successfully intercepted all six aerial drones launched by Russia, with successful interceptions occurring in the Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, and Mykolaiv regions. Although debris from one downed drone ignited a fire in Mykolaiv, there were no reported injuries. Similarly, officials in Khmelnytskyi and Lviv confirmed no damage or casualties in their areas.
In a statement regarding the ongoing conflict, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed two Ukrainian aerial drones over the Bryansk region, along with one drone each in the Tambov, Tula, and Moscow regions.
This recent aid package and the ongoing diplomatic engagement underline the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.