US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the aid package comes from unexpected cost savings from Pentagon contracts, which are used for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) shells and ammunition.
“This ammunition will give Ukraine a shot in the arm for a while, but only for a short period of time,” Mr. Sullivan said, adding that it would probably only help Ukraine for a few weeks.
“This amount of weapons is not enough to meet Ukraine’s needs and will not prevent Ukraine from running out of ammunition,” Mr. Sullivan said.
Ukrainian soldiers take part in training in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the aid package includes air defense missiles and artillery shells. He said providing weapons to Ukraine through the Pentagon’s savings contract would likely be a one-time event and not a sustainable way to fund Kiev.
US officials have also considered options to seize about $285 billion in frozen Russian assets from 2022 and use the money to pay for Ukrainian weapons.
The announcement came as Poland's president and prime minister met with President Joe Biden at the White House late Tuesday to discuss ways to increase support for Ukraine.
The White House is scrambling to find ways to send more military aid to Ukraine due to the situation on the battlefield and opposition to the funding from hard-line Republicans.
Biden, a Democrat, has supported military aid to Ukraine since the conflict began in 2022. Former Republican President Donald Trump, meanwhile, took a different stance.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on a bill to provide an additional $60 billion to Ukraine.
On the same day, the Danish Defense Ministry said it would provide a new military aid package including Caesar artillery systems and ammunition to Ukraine worth about $336.6 million. European Union countries are also preparing to approve a new 5 billion euro supplement to finance military shipments to Ukraine.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
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