The Biden administration is sending Ukraine a military aid package worth up to $1.2 billion “to bolster [Ukraine’s] air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs,” the Pentagon announced Tuesday.
The latest package “underscores the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraine’s most urgent requirements by committing critical capabilities—such as air defense systems and munitions—while also building the capacity of Ukraine’s armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term,” Pentagon press secretary, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, said during a news conference.
The equipment will be purchased new from defense contractors under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), an authority that lets the United States procure capabilities from industry or partners. USAI is a fund created in 2015 in response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea….