On July 1, the Biden administration sent further security aid for Ukraine, totaling around $820 million.
Massive Spending
The support consists of $770 million in Ukraine National Defense Initiative (USAI) money, as well as the approval of a President Drawdown (PDA) of security assistance worth up to $50 million.
Since August 2021, the Pentagon has drawn down its stock of weapons and equipment 14 times, including through the PDA.
The United States has provided Ukraine with over $6.92 billion in military assistance since Russia invaded the country on February 24 in order to combat Russian soldiers.
Since 2014, the US had given Ukraine almost $1.8 billion worth of arms and military equipment, $700 million among which originated from the Biden government before the attack.
President Biden made a general announcement about the most recent $820 million aid package during a media briefing on Thursday in Madrid.
According to Biden, the United States is providing Ukraine with “the capacity” so that “they can continue to reject the Russian aggression.”
“We will back Ukraine for however long it takes,” he added.
Welp, we're giving another $820 million to Ukraine. America has given more money to Ukraine in five months than we spent in the first year of the Iraq War and the first two years of the Afghanistan War
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 1, 2022
Surface-to-Air Missiles
As it confirmed the news, the Pentagon released a more detailed statement on Friday.
It was stated that two National Strategic Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), an anti-aircraft program created in Norway, were used to safeguard the airspace above the White House, as well as the Capitol in Washington.
It will be provided to Ukraine by the USAI funding in the most recent aid package.
“I am extremely thankful to the United States and Biden individually for the bundle of assistance for Ukraine, which contains very potent NASAMS.”
“It is an anti-aircraft ballistic missile that will substantially strengthen our air defense,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video letter on Friday.
Happy official first day of the recession! Has Biden announced any plans to help Americans other than sending more money to Ukraine?
— USA Trump Man 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@USATRUMPMAN1) July 1, 2022
Four new counter-artillery radars and up to 150,000 units of 155mm artillery ammunition will also be purchased with USAI money.
A senior defense official told a local reporter that the Raytheon-Technologies AN/TPQ-37 anti-artillery radars were being sent, according to Reuters.
These weapons, that have approximately trebled the operational capacity of the before provided AN/TPQ-36 systems, are going over to Ukraine for the first time.
Defense industry businesses will need at least a few weeks to create the radars. Additionally, Ukrainians are receiving training on how to utilize brand-new technologies.
Additional ammo for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Batteries (HIMARS) will also be included in the package thanks to the PDA authorization. Ukraine received medium-range rocket weapons from the Army in June.
It will take weeks or even months for much of the aid to get to Ukraine.
“As the United States prepares to celebrate our freedom, we stay faithful to the independence, stability, sovereignty, and national sovereignty of Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a recent speech following the release of the aid.
