New 50th US Military Aid Package to Ukraine Expected at $425 Million
The United States will provide Ukraine with additional military aid totalling up to $425 million in a package expected on Friday, as reported by Voice of America, citing two unnamed American officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity before the aid announcement.
According to these officials, this includes the delivery of weapons to Kyiv worth up to $125 million directly from the Pentagon's stockpiles. This marks the 50th new military aid package to Ukraine since the Russian military invasion in February 2022.
The package includes more GMLRS missiles for high-mobility rocket systems, additional ammunition for the national enhanced anti-aircraft missile system, 105 rounds of 155mm and 12mm calibre shells, 12 heavy-duty trucks, and other equipment, such as cold weather gear to sustain combat operations during the winter.
The forthcoming military aid package will also include up to $300 million from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds, which will be directed towards future needs, including laser-guided ammunition to counter drones.
The Pentagon has depleted the USAI funding and has approximately $5 billion left to draw from its weapons stockpiles. The officials mentioned that the $300 million USAI funds provided to Ukraine are proportionate to the amount the Pentagon withdrew from the continuing resolution, maintaining funding based on the previous year's budget until Congress passes a new one.
Congress approved a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown, but it is set to expire on November 17.
In total, the United States has provided Ukraine with around $44 billion in security assistance since Russia's unprovoked military invasion.
It was previously revealed that the Netherlands announced providing Ukraine with military aid amounting to half a billion euros. Specifically, the Dutch Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, announced after her visit to Ukraine that approximately €260 million would be spent on artillery ammunition, while an additional €240 million would go toward tank ammunition. She expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to effectively continue its resistance with the necessary military equipment in sufficient quantities.