Washington, DC – Today, on Ukraine’s independence day, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $2.98 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Briefing reporters at the Pentagon, undersecretary of defense for policy, Colin H. Kahl said, “As we have made clear at every level of this administration, we are committed to sustained security assistance as Ukraine defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are with Ukraine today and — alongside our allies and partners — we will stick with Ukraine over the long haul.”
This USAI package reiterates the US commitment for long term support of Ukraine to “build the enduring strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces as it continues to defend its sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder in a written statement. Under USAI the United States will procure capabilities from industry. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine in the mid- and long-term to ensure Ukraine can continue to defend itself as an independent, sovereign and prosperous state, said Brig. Gen Ryder.
This the biggest tranche of security assistance for Ukraine to date, and includes the following capabilities:
- Six additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) with additional munitions for NASAMS;
- Up to 245,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition;
- Up to 65,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition;
- Up to 24 counter-artillery radars;
- Puma Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and support equipment for Scan Eagle UAS systems;
- VAMPIRE Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems;
- Laser-guided rocket systems;
- Funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
Putin “has not given up on his overall strategic objective of seizing most of Ukraine, toppling the regime, reclaiming Ukraine as part of a new Russian empire,” said Kahl. “What he has done is lengthened his timeline and recognized that he is off-plan.”
In a statement on Ukraine’s independence day, President Biden said, ”Today and every day, we stand with the Ukrainian people to proclaim that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.”
The United States has committed more than $13.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021. In total, the United States has committed more than $15.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014. DOD continues to work with Ukraine to meet both its immediate and longer-term security assistance needs.
Poonam Sharma
Poonam is a multi-media journalist, and Founder of Global Strat View. She managed India America Today (IAT) for seven years, and launched its print edition in 2019 with IAT's Founder and Editor, the late Tejinder Singh.
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