Russo-Ukraine War

U.S. Will Announce $275 Million More in Artillery and Ammunition for Ukraine

Last updated 06:11 PM EDT • Read time: 3m

Join the Conversation

Photo: A sapper inspects fragments of a Russian air bomb that hit a living area injuring ten in Kharkiv, Ukraine, May 22, 2024. Two U.S. officials say the Biden administration is expected to announce an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine on Friday. It comes as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region. This will be the fourth installment of military aid for Ukraine since Congress passed a long-delayed foreign aid bill late last month.(AP Photo/Andrii Marienko, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine on Friday as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, two U.S. officials say.

This will be the fourth installment of military aid for Ukraine since Congress passed a long-delayed foreign aid bill late last month and comes as the Biden administration has pledged to keep weapons flowing regularly and to get them to the front lines as quickly as possible.

The package includes high mobility artillery rocket systems, or HIMARS, munitions as well 155 mm and 105 mm high-demand artillery rounds, according to the two U.S. officials. Additional items in the aid package include Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems; anti-tank mines, tactical vehicles, small arms and ammunition for those weapons, one of the officials said. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details of the aid package before the public announcement.

Ukraine Abandons Truce and Attacks Russian Oil Refinery

Susie Blann • Associated Press

World Wars Don't Start All At Once

Francis P. Sempa • RealClearDefense

The Kill Web May Already Be Inside the Perimeter

Burak Oktenli • RealClearDefense

Russia: Doubling Down in Ukraine – and Against the West

Ian Hill • The Interpreter

Explore Russo-Ukraine War Stories

It follows a monthly gathering Monday of about 50 defense leaders from Europe and elsewhere who meet regularly to coordinate getting more military aid to Ukraine. At this latest meeting, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Ukraine was in a “moment of challenge” due to Russia’s new onslaught on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. He pledged to keep weapons moving “week after week.”

Russia has sought to take advantage of Ukrainian shortages in manpower and weapons while the war-torn country waits for the arrival of more U.S. assistance, which was delayed for months in Congress. Ukrainian forces have been pushed backward in places, while Russia has pounded its power grid and civilian areas.

In the month since President Joe Biden signed the $95 billion foreign aid package, which included about $61 billion for Ukraine, the U.S. has announced and started to send almost $1.7 billion in weapons pulled from Pentagon stockpiles.

It’s also announced $6 billion in funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. That pays for longer-term contracts with the defense industry and means that the weapons could take many months or years to arrive.

With this latest package, the U.S. has now provided almost $51 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

View and Read Comments

Recommended