President Biden on Tuesday held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and detailed a new $625 million aid package for Ukraine, which includes more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), howitzers, and anti-tank mines.
According to the Pentagon, the new package includes:
- Four HIMARS and associated ammunition
- 16 155mm Howitzers
- 75,000 155mm artillery rounds
- 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
- 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems
- 16 105mm Howitzers
- 30,000 120mm mortar rounds
- 200 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles
- 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
- Obstacle emplacement equipment
- Claymore anti-personnel munitions
The new HIMARS will bring the total number of the rocket launchers sent to Ukraine to 20. Russia has said it’s destroyed some of the US-provided HIMARS in missile strikes, but it’s not clear how many as Ukraine usually denies such Russian claims.
The US recently pledged to give Ukraine another 18 HIMARS, but that is being done through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows the US government to purchase weapons for Kyiv. Weapons delivered through this program could take several years as it involves the contracting process, and the arms might need to be manufactured.
The new $625 million package is being provided through the presidential drawdown authority, which allows Biden to send arms to Ukraine directly from US military stockpiles. A stopgap funding bill President Biden signed into law last week included $3.7 billion for this authority. It also included $12.3 billion for other military and economic aid for Ukraine, bringing total US spending on the war to about $67.5 billion, a number that’s higher than Russia’s entire military budget for 2021.
During his call with Zelensky, Biden said that the US is ready to “impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country” that supports Russia’s annexation of Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory.
The HIMARS that the US is providing Ukraine are equipped with munitions that have a range of about 50 miles. But Ukraine wants longer-range missiles that can hit targets up to 190 miles away, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). But so far, the Biden administration has been hesitant to sign off on sending the ATACMS over fears they could be used to target Russian territory and lead to an escalation.
To ease those concerns, Ukraine is reportedly offering to give the US targeting control over its use of longer-range weapons by sharing lists of potential Russian targets and giving Washington veto power over the strikes. But so far, the US hasn’t agreed to send the ATACMS.
Four HIMARS and associated ammunition
16 155mm Howitzers
75,000 155mm artillery rounds
500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems
16 105mm Howitzers
30,000 120mm mortar rounds
200 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles
200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition
Obstacle emplacement equipment
Claymore anti-personnel munitions
AND A PATRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE!!!!
BY THE HALF PLATE OF SH*T!
Nina was incorrect: I’d call it a full plate.
AND A CLOSET UKRAINE HATER!!!
God your stale. More death means love, I guess.
Russia is also contributing with weapons and equipment to Ukraine. Even more than West. Any issues with that?
If the US was using Russia as a sacrificial lamb in order to take down Ukraine, my comment would have been the same. Idiot.
I have zero issues with this. Ukraine is a sovereign country and Zelensky is doing what any leader of a nation would do to defend it. To include, asking for any help a country can get.
Thanks to this assistance from the West, an oppressed and bullied small country has reduced an allegedly known nuclear “Super Power” with 1.5 million troops down to a Chihuahua with Nukes.
“It also included $12.3 billion for other military and economic aid for Ukraine, bringing total US spending on the war to about $67.5 billion, a number that’s higher than Russia’s entire military budget for 2021.’
And they still lost a good chunk of territory. So, it’s good of you and your continued willingness for Ukrainians to die and have their country carved up and destroyed so those humanitarians in the West can keep using them as a sacrificial lamb to take down Russia. “Thanks” is such an appropriate word(/s).
I believe you are correct about Russia’s military budget. I think it came to $54 billion.
The war isn’t over and they are winning back territory every day. Russia is facing impossible odds. Soon the weather will turn cold and the troops at the front lines in their summer gear are going to start dying of exposure. This isn’t going to be pretty.
Thanks John, but I already read the MSM headlines on Yahoo.
Awww, Your “true concern” for the lives of Ukrainians shows your real side.
The lord forbid you once, only once, say anything negative about Russia.
Because stating facts is praise. Me saying Russia has taken territory somehow means that I’m “sticking” for Russia. My obvious point, since I quoted the article, was that they are in fact fighting to get back territory even while the equivalent of Russia’s entire military budget has been poured into their country. Meaning, more deaths are coming for which you are thanful. Got it.
Again, Ukraine will fight with or without West support because Ukraine is all Ukrainians have. You are making an assumption that is West doesn’t support Ukraine, that there will be peace and no deaths. Wrong, Ukraine will be crushed and the death toll will be in the hundreds of thousands.
Zelensky said it best: “If Russia stops fighting today, there is no more War, if Ukraine stops fighting today, there is no more Ukraine.
You are all about “peace” and “negotiations” but only demand that from Ukraine and West. Do you have any demands for Russia or Russian supporters here in the name of peace?
I’m not making any assumptions. The only fact that is obvious is that the west doesn’t give a flying f*ck about Ukraine or its people and will use them as long as they will continue to die for the sake of “weakening” Russia. Biden said it. Austin said it. Blinken said it. You are the one making assumptions and you quote the moron who decided to enrich himself instead of making good on his campaign promises. The West brought on this war and whatever happens to Ukraine is on the West.
The great chess players and using the Ukrainians as puppets.
So – you were for Saddam Hussein, Milosevic, Assad, Ho Chi Minh, Khadafy when they were defending their nations like anyone like Joe Zelensky would do? Did you move out of the US in protest?
The Russian defense budget is 70 billion a year, that is for everything, air force navy rocket forces, army some of that inevitably is lost stolen or misspent. So in that light they are facing an absolute wall of western money and equipment. It is hopeless and they should quit now. They seem to be too stupid to realize that they are beaten
Oh, so you’re admitting now that Russia isn’t fighting Ukraine; it’s fighting the United Snakes and all its lackeys.
None of which have one reason to interfere except for the West’s inbred hate of Russia, installed in us since WWII.
Because WTF is “Ukraine” to us? It sure as sh*t ain’t nuthin’ to me. ZelBoy instigated this war, and he got what he wanted.
Ask a random Amerikkkan if he/she is willing to continue paying insanely inflated prices because of ByeDone’s sanctions. The average Amerikkkan will pay ELEVEN THOUSAND additional dollars next year because of inflation. Ask the residents of Jackson whether they’d rather have drinkable water or send munitions to a foreign country. Ask the people of Florida who had no flood insurance if they would prefer help rebuilding or keep a US puppet installed in a foreign government.
If ByeDone wants to put it to a vote, let him. But taxpayers ain’t goin’ for it.
The fighters are Ukrainian the supplies are from the entire West. The borders are clear they were established in 1999 or so. Russia was doing OK nibbling but put their foot in it when they attempted to grab too much. Now they lose it all.
In your dreams.
You seem to forget that Russia has nukes.
Pfft so do we.
But not as many 😁
You obviously don’t understand how that works. How many X overkill does one need?
“The fighters are Ukrainian the supplies are from the entire West.”
So, no US billions and everything is the same? Sure.
Missing your point here, the USA is spending billions to eff Russia up. Russia seems at the top levels seems to want to play. The troops on the ground are in retreat they seem less enthusiastic.
The old saying it takes 5 muscles to smile and 43 to say “eff you” but sometimes the extra effort is worth it.
Russia needs to leave back to its 2000 borders. I do not support Ukraine crossing the 2000 line into Russia except maybe for some kind of limited tactically necessary operation. I don’t know why they aren’t shelling Beograd they have non-US systems with the range and it seems there are a lot of conscripts gathered there, totally legitimate target.
Russia has lost it is a sin for them to keep trying.
My point was without the US input, this wouldn’t have started and wouldn’t have continued. And you keep talking about what Russia must do without considering what Russia might do. Contrary to some people’s opinion that think I’m pro-Russia, I believe RUSSIA BELIEVES they can’t lose this war and nothing will get better until that is a consideration on how the West goes forward (or backward) from here.
Well the war will keep going until Russia changes its mind about its chances of winning. I hope they reach agreement soon.
People can’t afford flour, milk, and eggs in my local community and line up around the block at food banks. And at the same time our government spends like no tomorrow to increase inflation for a war on Russia’s border that NOBODY voted for. Thank you Biden and congress.
I hate our bipartisan pro-war parties and government. Until we vote in some anti war candidates nothing will change in our lifetime.
Nothing short of a revolution will do it, Pal.
And we need to do it up right, like the French did. No quarter.
Too many diverse reasons will make us into a large Syria. There is no common enemy. Everyone hates everyone.
Yes Wars, sadly you’re entirely correct 🙁
I envision militia checkpoints on my way to the grocery store.
Yes, if the likes of us are allowed to buy groceries 😐
86% of the customers in Cape Coral are still without electricity. The issue is the extra help LCEC needed to repair line. The other issue was, ahem, who was going to pay for it. No XO from the Governor yet. Biden? Well he can gift Z, on a lend/lease plan, billions, which we know, will be fully underwritten by us. G-d Bless America!
Why wasn’t all this covered in the previous donations to the Ukrainian Regime
Yeah, yeah. We’ve heard it all before. Meanwhile Russia is taking Ukraine piece by piece. And with 300,000 more troops and the requisite armor, artillery and air power, the job will be sped up considerably. Russia will no longer be out-numbered, and regardless of what weapons the US sends, Russia can send more. The outcome has never been in doubt and is even less so now, morons in this thread (and on the Antiwar staff) notwithstanding.
$625 million arms package for ukraine. wait and see how many $100’s of millions arms package for the taiwan. and that doesn’t even begin to include the TRILLION dollars for the pentagon every year. but any money for US schools & food & transportation etc = how dare you socialist mundane crybabies, how dare you.
“During his call with Zelensky, Biden to “impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country” that supports Russia’s annexation of Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory.”
Acting on orders from his puppet master obama; senile angry Joey Biden reads another prepared hyperbolic statement.
Whatever will obama do when Joey Biden is a mental vegetable next year?
Or maybe it was Trump:
Trump said that while he was giving ‘anti-tank busters’ to Ukraine, Presidents Obama and Biden gave ‘blankets,’ referring to humanitarian aid.
‘The Fake News Media refuses to report that I was the one who very early and strongly gave the anti-tank busters (Javelins) to Ukraine, while Obama/Biden was giving blankets, to great and open complaints,’ he said in a statement.
“Then Biden came in, and canceled the remaining military equipment that was packed, loaded, and ready to be shipped. Now the Fake News Media is trying to say that Trump gave Ukraine nothing and it was Biden who is their great friend and gave them weaponry. The dishonesty is so unbelievable. All I can do is report it!’