United States announces new $800 million in aid to Ukraine

The United States government announced this week it will send another $800 million in aid to Ukraine to assist in the ongoing fight against the Russian invasion.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced the new aid package on Friday. “Today I am authorizing our nineteenth drawdown since September 2021 of U.S. arms and equipment utilizing this authority,” Blinken said. “This $775 million drawdown includes additional arms, munitions, and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories, equipment that Ukraine’s forces have used so effectively for their country’s defense.”

The new package brings the total of United States aid to Ukraine since the Russian assault began in February to $10.6 billion. The $775 million includes “15 Scan Eagles, 40 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles known as MRAPs with mine-clearing rollers, and 2,000 anti-armor rounds that can help Ukraine troops move forward in the south and east, where Russian forces have placed mines,” according to a senior defense official, who spoke to reporters this week.

Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ pledge to stand with Ukraine and support the Ukrainian military with supplies and funding “as long as it takes.” 

“As we approach the six-month mark of Russia’s unprovoked and brutal full-scale war against Ukraine, President Putin’s forces continue their assault, inflicting grievous harm on civilians and causing massive destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Blinken said. “President Biden has been clear that we will continue to support the people of Ukraine in defending their country from Russia’s aggression for as long as it takes.”