The United States government announced new $1.1 billion additional security assistance for Ukraine on Wednesday, bringing the total amount of funding for the war against Russia to more than $16.2 billion since February.
The most recent aid package is the 22nd such installment announced by the Biden administration and follows referendums held in four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. The referendums are backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
New Weapons Package for Ukraine
The votes, which are largely viewed as rigged and illegitimate, are to determine whether or not Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, should become part of Russia. The referendums have been criticized as part of a scheme by the Russian strongman to pave the way for Moscow to announce that it has annexed more of Ukraine by the end of the week.
The White House said earlier this week that the United States would never actually acknowledge the results of the "sham referendum." Authorities added that they would continue to provide Ukraine with military and humanitarian support in the midst of Russia's invasion, as per CNBC.
The Biden administration's latest package includes 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) as well as munitions for those systems, 150 armored multipurpose vehicles, 150 tactical vehicles to tow weapons, 40 trucks and 80 trailers to transport heavy equipment, two radars for unmanned aerial systems, 20 multi-mission radars as well as secure communication systems, and body armor.
Unlike similar packages, the recent assistance to Ukraine is authorized through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which uses funds appropriated by Congress. The USAI is responsible for financing America's defense industry to scale up the country's arms production.
According to Reuters, the aid package comes as the United States is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the American government will not be deterred from supporting Ukraine. She added that the U.S. will continue to stand with Kyiv and its people while providing them security assistance.
Read Also : Nord Stream Pipeline Leak: Russia Calls Sabotage Accusations 'Stupid,' New Videos Show Major Damage
Russia-Ukraine War
With a focus on contracts for weapons and equipment, the latest package seeks to help Ukraine secure its longer-term defense needs against Russian forces. It could take roughly a year or two for Ukraine to get the systems.
The United States has also used Pentagon drawdown authority to provide weapons quicker and another announcement for that Defense Department aid is expected to come early next week. Various officials argued that the HIMARS and other similar systems were crucial to Ukraine's war against Russia.
A senior defense official was the one who said that the weapons and equipment would take anywhere between six months to two years to get to Ukraine. He added that the HIMARS will take "a few years" more.
The official noted that the HIMARS is being given to Ukraine as an investment in the European country's future defense. He added that the contract does not rule out other U.S. efforts to provide additional systems faster through the Pentagon drawdown program. Various officials spoke under the condition of anonymity on Wednesday to provide details of the package, the Washington Post reported.
