The House has approved a long-stalled aid package that would allow American weapons to be sent to Ukraine in efforts to replenish critical munitions shortages in the war against Russia. The measure includes around $60 billion, with a portion set aside to replenish U.S. defense stockpiles and purchase U.S. defense systems as needed by Ukrainian officials. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation, and President Biden has indicated that he would sign it into law. Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder from the Pentagon mentioned that more air-defense and artillery ammunition would likely be included in the aid package for Ukraine.
Transfers of weapons and ammunition from the United States are typically coordinated through the U.S. Transportation Command, which manages logistics networks for rapid movement of matériel across the world. Shipments of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine are often drawn from Pentagon assets in Europe, with coordination by the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine based in Germany. Military leaders have sent Ukraine 55 aid packages since August 2021, but these slowed down last fall due to opposition from some Republicans. The last aid package included various weapons such as Stinger antiaircraft missiles and artillery ammunition.
The House legislation includes a provision for sending Ukraine weapons known as ATACMS, long-range ground-launched guided missiles. The Biden administration agreed to provide a small number of these missiles last year, which were used by Ukrainian forces to strike Russian-occupied territory. General Ryder mentioned that while there is a possibility of providing more ATACMS, there was nothing official to announce at the moment. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures both ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles, delivered the first operational Precision Strike Missiles to the U.S. Army last year.
The production of the munitions that Ukraine needs has been accelerated in the United States, with General Dynamics opening a new factory to increase the production of metal shell bodies for artillery ammunition. The goal is to produce 100,000 155-millimeter artillery projectiles per month by 2025. Apart from the U.S., other countries have also been providing military aid to Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has convened meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which includes NATO nations, major non-NATO allies, and South American nations that have previously purchased arms from Russia. NATO members have pledged additional military support to Ukraine.
After a virtual meeting of NATO defense ministers, it was announced that Germany would deliver an additional Patriot air-defense missile system to Ukraine, along with $4.3 billion in military support from the Netherlands and aid from other NATO members. Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, emphasized that supporting Ukraine is not charity but an investment in global security. The aid provided to Ukraine allows them to destroy Russian combat capabilities, making everyone safer. The support from various countries and international organizations underscores the collective effort to assist Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
