United States President Joe Biden announced the country's largest assistance package to Ukraine, providing $1 billion in weapons to the European nation to help fight against Russia.
The Department of Defense said the massive delivery is the largest sent to Ukraine under the Biden administration. The U.S. has already sent a total of $9.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the Democrat took office. This number far eclipsed the $2 billion that the U.S. sent between 2014 and 2021.
U.S. Aid to Ukraine
In a statement, the Pentagon said, "To meet Ukraine's evolving battlefield requirements, the United States will continue to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with key capabilities calibrated to make a difference."
Today, the United States has authorized our biggest security assistance package to date for Ukraine.
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 8, 2022
This package will get additional ammunition, weapons, and equipment to Ukraine to help meet their critical security needs as they defend their country.
First on the weapons list sent to Ukraine is additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The Ukrainian military has touted the new weapons platform as a game changer in its fight with Moscow, as per Fox News.
Furthermore, the U.S. is also sending 75,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, 20 120mm mortar systems, and 20,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition. The European country will also receive additional munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).
This package includes 1,000 Javelin and hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems; 50 armored medical treatment vehicles; Claymore anti-personnel munitions; C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment; Medical supplies, and other equipment.
According to CNBC, in a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the U.S. would continue to consult closely with Ukraine and surge additionally available systems and capabilities carefully calibrated to make a difference on the battlefield.
War With Russia
The official noted that they would help strengthen Ukraine's eventual position at the negotiating table. The announcement of the package comes a day after a report was reversed after it claimed that the majority of military aid sent to Ukraine never reaches the front lines.
During an interview in April, non-profit founder Jonas Ohman said that roughly 30% of the assistance to Ukraine reaches its final destination. His Lithuania-based group, Blue-Yellow, has been ferrying non-lethal military aid to Ukrainian combat units since the beginning of the war with Russia, The Week reported.
The situation also comes as Pink Floyd's Roger Waters defended Russia and criticized Biden for being a "war criminal." He accused the Democratic president of "fueling the fire in the Ukraine" war.
The co-founder of Pink Floyd made his remarks during his latest solo concert tour, where he also had an image of Biden in a montage of "war criminals." Included was a message "Just getting started" over the 46th president's face.
Waters wondered aloud why the U.S. would not encourage Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate with Russia. He was then pushed on his remarks and accused of blaming the party that got invaded.
In February, Russia's military forces invaded Ukraine after previously taking over and annexing the region of Crimea in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian media have offered the false narrative of denazifying Ukraine to justify the invasion despite Zelensky being Jewish, as per The Hill.
