WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 The Pentagon announced a new package of long-term security assistance for Ukraine on Friday, marking\u00a0the first anniversary\u00a0of\u00a0Russia\u2019s invasion\u00a0with a $2 billion commitment to send more rounds of ammunition and a variety of small, high-tech drones into the fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement comes just days after\u00a0President Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv\u00a0and pledged America\u2019s continuing commitment to Ukraine. Biden told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his people that \u201cAmericans stand with you, and the world stands with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement Friday, the Pentagon said the aid includes weapons to counter Russia\u2019s unmanned systems and several types of drones, including the upgraded Switchblade 600 Kamikaze drone, as well as electronic warfare detection equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also includes money for additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery rounds and munitions for laser-guided rocket systems. But, in an unusual move, the Pentagon provided no details on how many rounds of any kind will be bought. Including this latest package, the U.S. has now committed more than $32 billion in\u00a0security assistance\u00a0to Ukraine since Russia\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the first anniversary of Russia\u2019s invasion is a chance for all who believe in freedom \u201cto recommit ourselves to supporting Ukraine\u2019s brave defenders for the long haul \u2014 and to recall that the stakes of Russia\u2019s war stretch far beyond Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Biden was scheduled to meet virtually Friday with other Group of Seven leaders and Zelenskyy \u201cto continue coordinating our efforts to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its war,\u201d the White House said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those efforts include what the White House called \u201csweeping\u201d sanctions on over 200 people and entities \u201cto further degrade Russia\u2019s economy and diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine.\u201d The Biden administration will also further restrict exports to Russia and raise tariffs on some Russian products imported to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House statement released Friday also said, \u201cG7 countries will continue to keep Russia\u2019s sovereign assets immobilized until there is a resolution to the conflict that addresses Russia\u2019s violation of Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just days after\u00a0Austin traveled to Kyiv\u00a0in April 2022 to meet with Zelenskyy, he launched a now-monthly meeting of ministers of defense and defense chiefs to make sure momentum on assisting Ukraine does not fade. The most recent meeting was last week in Brussels, and over the past year the sessions have resulted in regular announcements by international partners of increasingly lethal weapons systems to help Ukraine defend itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That effort also spawned a spin-off group of the chief weapons buyers for each partner nation. They now meet regularly to address the pressure that support for Ukraine has put on international weapons stockpiles, to make sure equipment continues to flow and manufacturing meets the demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allies and partners, said Austin, have committed more than $20 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including tanks, armored vehicles, air-defense systems, artillery systems and weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDifficult times may lie ahead, but let us remain clear-eyed about what is at stake in Ukraine,\u201d Austin said, \u201cto ensure that a world of rules and rights is not replaced by one of tyranny and turmoil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest aid package uses\u00a0the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative\u00a0to provide funding for longer-term contracts to buy weapons and equipment. Unlike the presidential drawdown authority that the Pentagon has used repeatedly over the past year to pull weapons from its own stocks and quickly ship them to Ukraine, the USAI-funded equipment could take a year or two to get to the battlefront. As a result, it will do little to help Ukraine prepare for an expected new offensive in the spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Pentagon, the money will also buy mine clearing and communications equipment and fund training, maintenance and sustainment for Ukraine\u2019s forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On CNN Thursday night, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that Biden and Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine\u2019s request for F-16 fighter jets during the U.S. president\u2019s visit week to Kyiv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re about to mount a significant counter offense,\u201d Sullivan noted, referring to expectations that Ukraine will mount a spring offensive. \u201cFrom our perspective, F-16s are not the key capability for that offensive.\u201d He suggested, however, that the F-16 request could be revisited for long-term defense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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