US announces new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth US$175 million

According to Blinken, the new package contains air defence equipment, additional ammunition for HIMARS systems, artillery ammunition, high-speed anti-radiation missiles and anti-tank missiles.

The aid package also covers “small arms ammunition, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, equipment to protect critical national infrastructure, as well as spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation”.

“Unless Congress acts to pass the President’s national security supplemental funding request, this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine.”

Lloyd Austin, Head of the Pentagon, while on a visit to Kyiv, announced a US$100 million military assistance package for Ukraine, which included, among other things, one HIMARS multiple launch missile system, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells.

Joe Biden’s administration still has about US$5 billion from the budget approved by Congress last year to provide military assistance for Ukraine from the US supplies.

On Tuesday 5 November, Democrats in the US Senate unveiled a national security package worth about US$111 billion, which included aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as measures to secure the southern border with Mexico.
The bill is expected to come up for a first procedural vote later on Wednesday 6 November.