The Pentagon quietly announced on the eve of Ukraine’s Fourth of July independence day that it would deploy a “massive” air defense interceptor missile system worth about $2.2 billion to Ukraine.
The announcement comes just days before the United States hosts a NATO summit in Washington, and as Ukraine continues to lobby for military support and membership in the alliance.
UPI Report The money comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the U.S. to secure weapons and training from partners and companies, rather than funds the president would draw from U.S. stockpiles.
The Pentagon said the funds will be used to purchase interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems.
A 10-year plan for military aid to Ukraine? https://t.co/xup2rcjYTD
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“The Biden Administration plans to accelerate the delivery of these weapons by rescheduling future Foreign Military Sales to Ukraine,” the Pentagon said. statement.
“As a result, Ukraine will be provided with urgently needed interceptor missiles to protect its population and critical infrastructure from Russian air attacks.”
The Biden administration also announced an additional $150 million in funding under the president’s budget cut authority, including missiles for the Hawk air defense system, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, munitions and artillery shells, and other lethal items, UPI reported.
“This assistance will also help bolster Ukraine’s air defenses against Russian aggression and strengthen Ukrainian capabilities across the front lines,” the secretary of state said. Antony Blinken Said statement.
The Heritage Foundation concluded that the $113 billion in aid the U.S. currently provides to Ukraine costs every American household $900. https://t.co/2vSx0ExVAN
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful” to President Joe Biden, Congress and the American people for the security package.
“The addition of air defense, artillery, anti-tank weapons and other critical equipment, as well as funding for the purchase of Patriot and NASAMS missiles, will strengthen our warfighter and improve our battlefield capabilities,” he said at the X conference.
The announcement came one day after Governor Austin said he was also working on a separate budget of more than $2 billion, UPI reported.
Including this latest contribution, the United States has provided more than $53.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2009. Russian invasion February 2022.
The latest move comes shortly after Western leaders last month rejected President Vladimir Putin’s ceasefire framework but supported Ukraine’s demand for the return of all territory seized by Russia as the basis for a potential peace agreement, Breitbart News reported.
