4/22/22 - President Biden Announces Additional Military Aid For Ukraine

Ukraine will receive some $800 million dollars of additional aid from the United States.

President Biden held a press conference yesterday to announce that the US is sending another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine.

The Pentagon confirmed the package would include 72 155-millimeter Howitzers, 72 vehicles to tow the Howitzers and 144,000 artillery rounds. More than 121 tactical drones will also be sent to Ukraine, along with field equipment and spare parts.  

Pres. Biden said the latest round of aid would assist the Ukrainian military as it fights off a fresh Russian offensive in the east of the country and would include “artillery weapons, dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition to go with those howitzers.”

The President also announced a new ban on Russian ships docking in the US and unfurled a new refugee initiative for Ukrainians so that they “need not go through our southern border.”

“As we approach the two-month mark, here’s what we do know: Putin has failed to achieve his grand ambitions on the battlefield. After weeks of shelling of Kyiv, Kyiv still stands. President Zelensky and his democratically elected government still remain in power, and Ukrainian Armed Forces joined by many brave Ukrainian civilians have thwarted Russia’s conquest of their country,” Pres. Biden said.

Thursday’s announcement comes on the heels of an $800 million aid package last week that included Mi-17 helicopters originally meant for the Afghan army.

"This is money the government can help us to stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services,” Pres. Biden said.

“The United States and our allies and partners are moving as fast as possible to continue to provide Ukraine the forces that they need — the weapons they need, excuse me — the equipment they need, their forces need to defend their nation.”

Some US troops are preparing to train Ukrainian forces to use howitzer artillery systems. But Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Tuesday that the training had yet to begin.