President Joe Biden announced over $8 billion in military assistance to Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the U.S., signaling a significant commitment to help Kyiv in its war against Russian forces.
The package includes the first delivery of the Joint Standoff Weapon, a precision-guided bomb with a range of 81 miles, marking a substantial upgrade to Ukraine’s military capabilities. Biden emphasized that this aid aims to “strengthen Ukraine’s defenses without allowing attacks deeper into Russia.”
The bulk of the new aid is reportedly to be allocated before the end of the U.S. fiscal year and an additional $2.4 billion will be allocated through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, allowing the U.S. to purchase weapons from private companies instead of drawing from existing U.S. military stocks.
One of the key components of this aid package is the provision of another Patriot air defense battery and additional Patriot missiles, further bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian air attacks.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense will expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, with plans to support the training of 18 more pilots next year.
Biden also outlined efforts to combat Russian sanctions evasion, including disrupting a global cryptocurrency network involved in money laundering.
Biden further announced plans to convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany, where more than 50 countries will be involved to “support” Ukraine.