Biden authorizes another round of military aid for Ukraine

President Joe Biden has authorized another round of military aid for Ukraine amid conflict with Russia.

The Pentagon announced the aid for Ukraine on Friday, raising the total amount of US security assistance for Kyiv to $10.6 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration.

Friday’s announcement authorized by President Joe Biden, approved a drawdown from the Pentagon’s supplies, the nineteenth time the US president has done so since August 2021.

The Pentagon said the latest package of weapons and equipment would include additional ammo for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 16 105mm Howitzers and 36,000 105mm artillery rounds.

Fifteen Scan Eagle Unmanned Aerial Systems and 40 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles with mine rollers as well as additional High-speed Anti-radiation missiles will also be sent.

Another 50 Armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), 1,500 Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles and 1,000 Javelin anti-armor systems will be sent by the US. Other items will include mine clearing equipment and systems, night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics and laser rangefinders.

“As President Biden has made clear, we will support Ukraine as they defend their democracy for as long as it takes,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving battlefield requirements.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the courage and strength of the Ukrainian army and its people as “extraordinary,” vowing to continue providing weapons for Ukraine. “These capabilities are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s position at the negotiating table,” he said in a statement.