According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s announcement on Friday, the US will give Ukraine and nations impacted by Russia’s invasion of its neighbor more than USD 3.75 billion in military support.
According to Blinken, the United States will support Ukraine by giving it Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, armored personnel carriers, surface-to-air missiles, ammunition, and other supplies.
According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the package constitutes the highest use of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) since Russia’s incursion in February — USD 2.8 billion.
This power enables swift transfers of defense stockpiles, such as Humvees, trucks, and munitions, without the need for congressional authorization in the event of an emergency.
According to Jean-Pierre, the assistance includes mine-resistant vehicles with ambush protection, guided multiple launch rocket systems, surface-to-air missiles, anti-vehicle landmines, and ammunition.
Ukraine will also receive RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles, which are used for air defense. The missiles will be fired from Ukrainian Buk launchers, a weapon system from the Soviet period.
The Soviet launcher’s compatibility with a missile made by US firms Raytheon Technologies Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. required some engineering finesse, according to Laura Cooper, deputy under secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, who spoke to reporters at the Pentagon.
