U.S. Pledges $825 Million in Ukraine Aid, Including $400 Million During Austin's Unannounced Kyiv Visit

Oct 21, 2024, 08:02 AM

On October 16, the Biden-Harris administration announced a new $425 million military aid package for Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russian forces. The package includes M113 armored personnel carriers, additional ammunition for NASAMS air defense systems, RIM-7 missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition for HIMARS rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank weapons, and other equipment. President Joe Biden discussed the aid during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reaffirming U.S. support for Ukraine. This brings total U.S. military assistance to over $44 billion since February 2022. On October 21, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made his third unannounced visit to Kyiv, where he met with President Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. During the visit, Austin announced an additional $400 million military aid package for Ukraine, the 68th tranche of U.S. military assistance since August 2021. This package includes ammunition for HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, mortar systems and ammunition, M113 armored vehicles, TOW, Javelin, and AT-4 anti-tank weapons, aiming to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities and support its military efforts. The U.S. continues to coordinate with more than 50 nations to provide ongoing assistance to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.