US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed on Friday a substantial increase in military aid for Ukraine, totaling $6 billion, in a concerted effort by Washington to bolster support for the embattled nation amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
\This announcement follows closely on the heels of another aid package worth $1 billion, announced earlier in the week shortly after US President Joe Biden signed a long-awaited bill aimed at providing additional funding to Ukraine in its struggle against Russian advances.
During a virtual meeting of numerous international supporters of Kyiv, Austin unveiled the significant commitment, labeling it as the largest security assistance package to date.
The aid package encompasses various critical components, including air defense munitions, counter-drone systems, artillery ammunition, and maintenance and sustainment support.
In contrast to the $1 billion aid package announced earlier in the week, which included items sourced from existing US stocks, the latest assistance will be procured from the defense industry.
Consequently, there may be delays in the delivery of these essential supplies to the Ukrainian forces actively engaged in combat against Russian forces.
The United States has emerged as a crucial military ally of Ukraine, having pledged tens of billions of dollars in security assistance since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
However, prior to this week, Washington had announced new aid for Ukraine only once this year, with a $300 million package unveiled in March.
This earlier assistance was made possible by reallocating funds from the Pentagon’s budget, underscoring the significance of the recent aid commitments in bridging the gap in military support for Ukraine.
