The sale of these arms is fully funded, because the US has ample funds at its disposal after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
Reportedly, Joe Biden, President of United States on Thursday announced to send another US$800 million in military aid to Ukraine to assist its ability to fight invading Russian forces.
The package has come a week after the administration sent a US$800 million weapons package to Ukraine, and as Ukraine will need to fend off Russian forces fighting to control the Donbas region.
With Thursday’s announcement, the United States has committed US$4 billion in security assistance since the start of the Biden administration, including US$3.4 billion since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022.
Thursday’s package will include 72 155mm howitzers, 144,000 artillery rounds and 72 tactical vehicles to tow the howitzers, according to a statement from the Pentagon.
Ukraine will also be receiving 121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems developed by the Air Force for specifically Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters that these systems, made by AEVEX Aerospace, have similar capabilities to the Switchblade—a rapidly-deployable system that can be used against personnel and light vehicles.
To rush weapons to Ukraine, Biden has relied on presidential drawdown authority to direct the Pentagon to send weapons from its own stockpiles.
Biden acknowledged on Tuesday that he was nearing the limits of the drawdown authority provided to him under the US$1.5 trillion omnibus bill he signed last month, which included US$13.6 billion in supplemental aid to help Ukraine.
Therefore, he will ask Congress next week to approve supplemental funding to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption.
When asked how much supplemental funding he would request, Biden said that's being decided now, adding, “I'm asking the Defense Department to put together what they think we need.”
The US officials have in recent weeks warned Russia may be refocusing its efforts in Ukraine on hitting the Donbas region in a bid to overwhelm Ukrainian forces there after initial assaults on Kyiv and other major cities stalled.
Officials have warned the next phase of the fight could drag on for months or longer.
In addition to the military aid, the Biden administration will ask for US$500 million to help Ukraine keep government services. The president also announced a ban on Russian-affiliate ships docking in US ports.
Further, Biden also announced that the US will pledge to take in 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by the crisis.
As part of this, the Uniting for Ukraine program will allow Ukrainians to apply to stay in the US for up to two years through a process known as humanitarian parole, which allows government officials to temporarily waive immigration requirements.
