U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday announced a massive military aid package for Ukraine valued up to $6 billion. “That will allow us to procure new capabilities from Ukraine’s industry,” he said during a press conference after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on its 2nd anniversary to the day. He noted the U.S. will send the anticipated aid “as soon as possible.”
The announcement “underscores America’s commitment to Ukraine,” said the U.S. Defense Secretary. “This coalition stands together and we will not falter, we will not flitch and we will not fail” to stave off Russian aggression, he stressed.
Austin said that the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a monthly gathering of more than 50 countries, will also assist in the creation of a self-reliant Ukrainian defense industry, boosting Ukraine’s capabilities on air defense, information technology, demining and new UAVs amongst others.
Austin said this coalition reflects a galvanized world against Russian aggression on Ukraine. “The nations gathered today understand what’s at stake for Ukraine, Europe, the United States and for the world” he said. “If Putin prevails in Ukraine the security circumstances would be global said Austin,” adding “as President Biden said, Putin will not stop in Ukraine.”
Austin expressed his gratitude for Congress passing the $95 billion supplemental package, saying that it will allow Ukraine to keep up the fight defending its territories.
Another aid package valued up to $1 billion was approved earlier this week.
That package was given to Kyiv under the presidential drawdown authority, or PDA, and pulls weapons, ammunition and equipment from U.S. military stockpiles to fulfill Ukraine’s short-term needs. It includes ammunition for HIMARS and 155 mm rounds, along with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Javelins, Stingers and other critical needs.
Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said the package will likely include air defense and artillery capabilities.
Both packages dip into the $61 billion in Ukraine funding signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday. The last time supplemental aid for Ukraine was passed by Congress was in 2022.
During the virtual meeting Friday of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group hosted by the Pentagon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s needs Patriot missiles to create an air shield against further Russian missile attacks.
The group has “moved heaven and earth” since April 2022 to source millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armored vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia’s invasion, Defense Secretary Austin said.
Ukraine has for months complained of battlefield shortages, especially regarding air defense and artillery ammunition. Officials have said Moscow has been firing as many as 10 artillery rounds for every Ukrainian round fired.
“What I see on the battlefield today is that the Ukrainian forces have been rationing their ammunition for quite some time, rationing their capabilities, so the Russian forces essentially have gained the initiative,” a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.
The official said the latest aid will help Ukraine gain an upper hand but cautioned it “will not be a rapid process.”
VOA’s Penelope Poulou contributed to this story. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.
