United States preparing largest aid package in history for Ukraine worth $6 billion

According to the sources of the publication, the package can be completed and announced as early as April 26. It will include ammunition for Patriot air defense systems, artillery rounds, drones, anti-drone weapons and air-to-air missiles, which will be mounted on fighter jets.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to announce the new aid during an April 26 meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (the so-called “Ramstein format”). Politico writes that it would be a big boost after the United States showed up to meetings empty-handed for months while funding was blocked by Congress.

Some of this equipment is likely to arrive in Ukraine in several years, as the money is allocated within the framework of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. That is, the Pentagon will conclude contracts with American defense firms for the production of new equipment for Ukraine, and not use the current US stocks.

Background

On the evening of April 23, the upper chamber of the US Congress – the Senate – finally passed the law on aid to Ukraine for more than $60 billion. This happened after the decision was approved by the lower chamber – the House of Representatives.

Later, the bill was signed by US President Joe Biden . He announced the rapid dispatch of military aid to Ukraine. The first package of the new aid included ammunition for HIMARS, 155 mm artillery rounds, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, heavy anti-tank guided missiles (TOW), RIM-7 and AIM-9M air defense missiles, and more.

The United States also secretly transferred long-range ATACMS to Ukraine as part of the previous, March aid package. These missiles have already been used in battle. At the same time, Ukraine agreed with Washington on the supply of new ATACMS.