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The US Department of Defense has announced a “short-term stopgap” security assistance of US$300 million for Ukraine.
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The US Biden administration’s fifty-fifth tranche of equipment, to be provided from DOD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021, will include immediate air defence, artillery, and anti-tank support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The security assistance package includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) ammunition, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 155mm artillery rounds including high explosive and dual-purpose improved cluster munitions rounds, 105mm artillery rounds, AT-4 anti-armour systems, small arms ammunition, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, spare parts, maintenance and other ancillary equipment.
The Department of Defense was able to source the additional funding after identifying contract savings from previously appropriated supplemental funding that can be applied to replace DOD stocks and renegotiating contract costs, according to a DOD statement published on 12 March.
“The Department of Defense announced additional security assistance as an extraordinary measure to address some of Ukraine’s most pressing security and defence needs,” a department spokesperson said on 12 March.
“It is nowhere near enough to meet Ukraine’s battlefield needs. Without supplemental funding, DOD will remain hard-pressed to meet Ukraine’s capability requirements at a time when Russia is pressing its attacks against Ukrainian forces and cities.
“US leadership is essential to sustaining the historic efforts of some 50 allies and partners from around the globe that have committed more than $87 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion in February 2022 – a war of choice that continues to undermine global security and stability.
“Security assistance for Ukraine remains a smart investment in our national security. It deters potential aggression elsewhere in the world, while strengthening our defence industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people.
“The current supplemental request includes over $50 billion that could be invested in the United States. Funding from previous supplementals has enabled DOD to invest over $30 billion across nearly 40 states.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, speaking to media about the security assistance, said the package provides much-needed ammunition to help the Ukrainians, but unless Congress acts to appropriate more funding, the US will no longer be able to help.
“This ammunition will keep Ukraine’s guns firing for a period, but only a short period,” Sullivan said.
“This package does not displace and should not delay the critical need to pass the bipartisan national security bill.
“Congress must act, the House of Representatives must pass the bipartisan national security supplemental as soon as possible.
“The House has got to pass the supplemental as soon as possible to allow us to continue the flow of vital security ... assistance to Ukraine, to replenish the US military’s munitions stocks, to invest in our industrial base, and to support jobs in 40 states across the United States.
“The world is watching, the clock is ticking, and we need to see action as rapidly as possible.”
