Biden authorizes $100 million in weapons, equipment to Ukraine
The Biden administration announced $100 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Thursday, moments after the Senate sent a $40 billion supplemental aid package to the president’s desk.
The equipment will include additional artillery, radars and other equipment to Ukraine, President Biden said in a statement following passage of the Ukraine aid.
In a separate statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the weapons will be coming from the Pentagon’s existing inventories.
“These weapons and equipment will go directly to the front lines of freedom in Ukraine, and reiterate our strong support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s ongoing aggression,” Biden said.
Thursday’s package is the tenth shipment of weapons to Ukraine under presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to dig into its existing stockpiles. It also brings the total military assistance that the U.S. has provided to the country to $3.9 billion since Russia’s invasion began.
Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Congress last week to advance the supplemental by Thursday in order to continue sending security assistance at the current pace.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said last Friday that there was $100 million left of the $2.5 billion in drawdown authority that was passed in March. The remaining money would only last through the middle of May.
The $40 billion supplemental, which Biden is expected to sign, includes $9 billion for the Pentagon to replenish the weapons it sent to Ukraine, exceeding the administration’s request of $5 billion.
Source: TEST FEED1
