The Biden administration announced a new military aid package valued at $820 million for Ukraine as the country’s war against Russian aggression continues into its fifth month.
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This latest package, which was announced Friday afternoon, includes two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, up to 150,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, four additional counterartillery radars, and an unspecified amount of ammunition for the Lockheed Martin-created High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.
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About $770 million of the $820 million going to Ukraine is being allocated from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, and the remaining $50 million is coming from a presidential drawdown, according to Pentagon press secretary Todd Breasseale.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky specifically requested the NASAMS during a meeting with President Joe Biden earlier this week, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan described it as the Ukrainian’s “first request,” following missile strikes in the capital of Kyiv over the weekend.
The Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace and Raytheon air missile system is a medium-to-long-range surface-to-air missile defense system that should allow Ukraine to defend itself from greater distances.
“I can confirm that we are, in fact, in the process of finalizing a package that includes advanced air defense capabilities,” Sullivan told reporters Monday. “I won’t get into the details of the system,” later saying it would include “advanced medium- and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians, along with some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counterbattery radar systems.”
The United States has now allocated $6.9 billion to Ukraine since Russia invaded on Feb. 24, while the Biden administration has provided $7.6 billion since the start of the administration. This new set of aid was announced just days after NATO hosted a summit in Madrid.
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One of the most notable takeaways from the summit was Turkey dropping its opposition to Finland and Sweden’s bid to join the alliance after the three countries came to an agreement. Turkish leaders have already warned that they will reinstate their opposition if the two Nordic countries don’t follow through on their commitments.
