US to allocate €5.5 billion for military support to Ukraine

The US is set to provide Ukraine with a substantial military aid package worth around €5.5 billion, including much-needed munitions for air defence systems, such as the highly sought-after Patriot missiles. This announcement comes as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin convenes a virtual meeting on Friday with defence officials from Europe and around the world to discuss international aid for Ukraine.

The aid package will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which covers longer-term contracts with the defence industry. This means it could take months or even years for the weapons to arrive in Ukraine. The package will include a wide array of munitions for air defence, including the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAM), the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), as well as drones, counter-drone systems, and artillery.

This news follows the White House’s recent approval of €931 million in weapons and equipment for Ukraine earlier this week. These back-to-back aid packages are a result of new funding for Ukraine approved by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has already sent over €41 billion worth of weapons, maintenance, training, and spare parts to support Ukraine in its defense efforts. The ongoing support from the US demonstrates a strong commitment to Ukraine’s security and sovereignty in the face of ongoing aggression from Russia.