The Pentagon presented the new package of military assistance to Ukraine

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced the allocation of a new $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine.

This happened after phone negotiations with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Resulting from the conversation, in particular, Ukraine will receive additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for artillery and advanced missile systems.

According to the Pentagon, the features of this package include:

• 18 155-mm М777 howitzers;
• 36,000 artillery rounds of 155 mm caliber;
• 18 tactical vehicles for towing 155-mm howitzers;
• Additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery missile systems (HIMARS);
• Four tactical vehicles for equipment recovery;
• Spare parts and other equipment;
• Two Harpoon coastal defense systems;
• Thousands of protected radios;
• Thousands of night vision devices, thermal imaging sights, and other optics;
• Funding for training, maintenance, sustainment, transportation, and administrative costs.

As of now, the United States has allocated approximately $6.3 billion to Ukraine for security since the Biden administration was in office, including approximately $5.6 billion since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

In total, since 2014, the United States has allocated over $8.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Also, Lloyd Austin, Head of the Pentagon confirmed after a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (the so-called “Ramstein-3”) in Brussels that Germany will be handing over three MLRS with Mars II guided missiles to Ukraine.

Moldova, Georgia, and Ecuador also joined the negotiations.

Lloyd Austin noted that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 45 allies and partners from around the world have already provided assistance to Ukraine.

He added that since the previous meeting, important progress has been made “on several fronts.”

He also urged not to waste time in vain and deepen the support of the Armed Forces in the current struggle so that Ukraine can protect itself and its citizens.

However, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar stressed that as of now, Ukraine received only 10% of the weapons so needed for defense against Russia.