Pentagon announces $400 million in Ukraine arms transfers

The Pentagon on Friday announced a $400 million tranche of weapons for Ukraine, its second package since Congress passed a foreign aid bill last month with additional Defense Department funding to support Kyiv.

The new package includes additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface Air-to-Air Missile Systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds.

“Today, the United States is announcing a $400 million package of weapons and equipment to support the brave people of Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s aggression.”

The package also includes precision aerial munitions, Bradley armored vehicles and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.

The Pentagon announced a $1 billion arms package for Kyiv last month shortly after Congress passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan following months of delays. That package also included air defense interceptors, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons and artillery rounds.

Congress’ delay in passing the foreign aid bill, which included $48 billion in Ukraine-related funding for the Defense Department, resulted in severe ammunition and artillery shortages for Kyiv as sought to hold the line against Russia’s invasion.

Russian forces launched a ground attack on Kharkiv on Friday, prompting Ukraine to call up reserve units to fend off the assault. Ukrainian forces also had to retreat from Avdiivka earlier this year after a Russian offensive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked President Joe Biden and Congress for the new military aid package on X.

“This timely and vital U.S. assistance will help save civilian lives and strengthen Ukrainian warriors on the frontlines,” Zelenskyy wrote. “It will also allow us to better protect our cities and communities from Russia’s ongoing air terror attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure and energy facilities.”

Bryant Harris is the Congress reporter for Defense News. He has covered U.S. foreign policy, national security, international affairs and politics in Washington since 2014. He has also written for Foreign Policy, Al-Monitor, Al Jazeera English and IPS News.

五角大楼周五宣布向乌克兰提供价值 4 亿美元的武器，这是自国会上个月通过一项对外援助法案以来，五角大楼提供的第二批武器，该法案还包括国防部为支持基辅而提供的额外资金。

新方案包括爱国者防空系统和国家先进地对空导弹系统、毒刺防空导弹、标枪反坦克导弹、高机动性火箭炮系统以及 155 毫米和 105 毫米炮弹的额外弹药。

“今天，美国宣布向乌克兰提供价值4亿美元的武器装备，以支持勇敢的乌克兰人民，”国务卿安东尼·布林肯在X（原推特）上写道。“美国将继续与乌克兰站在一起，共同对抗俄罗斯的侵略。”

该方案还包括精确制导空中弹药、布雷德利装甲车和防地雷反伏击车。

五角大楼上个月宣布向基辅提供价值10亿美元的武器援助，此前不久，国会在经历了数月的拖延后，终于通过了一项向乌克兰、以色列和台湾提供950亿美元援助的法案。该援助计划还包括防空拦截器、装甲车、反坦克武器和炮弹。

国会迟迟未能通过对外援助法案，其中包括向国防部提供 480 亿美元与乌克兰相关的资金，导致基辅在抵御俄罗斯入侵时面临严重的弹药和大炮短缺。

俄罗斯军队周五对哈尔科夫发动地面进攻，迫使乌克兰调动预备役部队抵御进攻。今年早些时候，乌克兰军队也曾在俄罗斯的攻势下被迫从阿夫迪伊夫卡撤退。

乌克兰总统泽连斯基感谢拜登总统和国会就X日提出的新军事援助方案。

泽连斯基写道：“美国这项及时而至关重要的援助将有助于拯救平民生命，并增强乌克兰前线战士的力量。它还将使我们能够更好地保护我们的城市和社区免受俄罗斯持续不断的针对乌克兰关键基础设施和能源设施的空中恐怖袭击。”

布莱恩特·哈里斯是《防务新闻》的国会记者。自2014年以来，他一直在华盛顿报道美国外交政策、国家安全、国际事务和政治。他还曾为《外交政策》、《Al-Monitor》、《半岛电视台英语频道》和IPS新闻撰稿。