President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that the United States is sending another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine along with another $500 million in direct economic assistance to help the Ukrainian government maintain operations.
"This is money the government can help use to stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine," Biden said in remarks from the White House.
The new round of assistance brings the total U.S. aid to Ukraine under Biden to roughly $4 billion, including $3.4 billion since Russia’s invasion began eight weeks ago.
Biden last week authorized a separate $800 million package of military aid, but he said this new aid, meant to help Ukraine’s ability to fight in the in the Donbas region, comes at a crucial moment, as Russian forces launch a renewed offensive in the eastern part of the country.
“We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said, adding, “Now we have to accelerate that assistance package to help prepare Ukraine for Russia’s offensive that’s going to be more limited in terms of geography, but not in terms of brutality.”
Biden warned, though, that he has nearly exhausted the aid funding authorized by Congress last month and said he will be sending lawmakers a supplemental budget request next week to ensure that U.S. weapons and ammunition can keep flowing to Ukranian fighters and economic assistance can keep flowing to the Ukrainian people.
“My hope is and my expectation is Congress would move and act quickly,” Biden said. “Our unity at home, our unity with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin: He will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine.”
The Pentagon said that the new security assistance is the eighth drawdown of Defense Department equipment since August 2021. It includes 72 155mm Howitzers and 144,000 artillery rounds; 72 trucks to tow the Howitzers; 121 Phoenix Ghost drones, a new system developed by the Air Force to meet Ukrainian requirements; and field equipment and spare parts.
