The United States on August 1 announced a new tranche of weapons for Ukraine, including ammunition for rocket launchers and artillery guns that Ukrainian military officials say have been critical in the fight to repel Russian troops and to strike their supply lines.
The new $550 million package will “include more ammunition for the high mobility advanced rocket systems otherwise known as HIMARS, as well as ammunition” for artillery, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House.
This brings the total of military assistance committed to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office to more than $8 billion, Kirby said.
HIMARS have a longer range and are more precise than the Soviet-era artillery that Ukraine had in its arsenal.
“To meet its evolving battlefield requirements, the United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The White House said U.S. officials held a call on August 1 with top Ukrainian officials to discuss the new aid package.
“The U.S. officials provided their counterparts with details of a new package that the Biden Administration will authorize today to provide Ukraine with additional ammunition for the HIMARS and artillery systems that are making a difference on the battlefield,” a White House statement said.
The call came after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s call with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov on July 29 in which he previewed upcoming security assistance plans.
The call on August 1 was between Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national-security adviser Jake Sullivan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak, and Valeriy Zaluzhniy, commander in chief of the Ukrainian military, the White House said in a statement
Blinken said in a separate statement the United States continues to stand with allies and partners from more than 50 countries in providing security assistance to support Ukraine.
“More than five months into Russia’s brutal and unprovoked assault the people of Ukraine inspire the world as they defend their country and their freedom,” Blinken said.
The $550 million package is the 17th drawdown since August 2021 of arms and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories, Blinken said.
Russia has accused Western countries of “flooding” Ukraine with weapons, saying that this will only prolong the war.
The United States has sent 16 HIMARS to Ukraine as of July 20. It also has sent multiple-launch rocket systems that can precisely strike targets up to 80 kilometers away.
