The Biden administration has announced plans to provide approximately $125 million in new military aid to Ukraine. This aid package includes a variety of weapons and equipment such as air defense missiles, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelins, anti-armor missiles, counter-drone and counter-electronic warfare systems, artillery ammunition, vehicles, and more.
The aid is being provided through presidential drawdown authority, allowing for a quicker delivery of the weapons from Pentagon stockpiles. The formal announcement of this aid package is expected to be made on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.
Ukrainian forces have recently expanded their offensive into Russia, gaining territory around Kursk. However, Russian troops have also made advances in the east near the critical logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Pentagon officials are engaging with Ukrainian leaders to better understand the strategic objectives of the Kursk operation and its impact on the broader battlefield.
If Pokrovsk were to fall to Russian forces, it would pose a significant threat to Ukraine's defenses and bring Russia closer to capturing the Donetsk region. The U.S. administration acknowledges Ukraine's desire to establish a buffer zone along the border but seeks further clarity on how this aligns with Ukraine's overall war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the border area where the offensive was launched, reporting that Ukrainian forces had gained control of a Russian village and captured more prisoners of war. This latest aid package brings the total U.S. security assistance to Ukraine to over $55.7 billion since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
