A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire exercise in Ustka, Poland, in May 2024. (Chad Menegay/U.S. Army)
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is providing $425 million in air-defense weapons, air-to-ground missiles, armored vehicles and other munitions in the latest round of military aid for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.
President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday before the aid was announced to help the embattled country in its ongoing war against invading Russian forces.
The two leaders discussed the state of the war and a “victory plan” that Zelenskyy has touted to end the conflict, according to a readout of the call from the White House.
The aid will be provided through the presidential drawdown authority, which means equipment is pulled from existing U.S. military stocks and sent to Ukraine on an emergency basis.
“I am grateful to President Biden, both parties in Congress, and the American people for the $425 million defense package announced today,” Zelenskyy posted on X.
The latest aid comes after the White House’s authority to send more assistance was set to expire at the end of September. Biden directed the Defense Department to allocate all its remaining security assistance funding appropriated for Ukraine by the end of his term. This included ensuring $5.5 billion in presidential drawdown authority did not expire.
Earlier this month, Biden intended to host a summit of leaders from countries supporting Ukraine’s self-defense but canceled to help coordinate the response to Hurricane Milton. The White House in the readout said the meeting will occur virtually in November.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin flew to Brussels on Wednesday for meetings with NATO leaders. Austin on Saturday will attend a summit of defense ministers from the G7, an informal bloc of industrialized democracies. Support for Ukraine will be on the docket.
The U.S. has provided about $59.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.
The items in the military aid announced Wednesday include:
• Additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems.
• RIM-7 missiles and support for air defense.
• Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
• Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.
• Air-to-ground munitions.
• 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition.
• Tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided missiles.
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems.
• High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles.
• Small arms and ammunition.
• Grenades, thermals, and training equipment.
• Demolitions equipment and munitions.
• Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training and transportation.
