30-8-2023 (WASHINGTON) The United States unveiled a new allocation of military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday, adding to the ongoing support for the nation with a package valued at $250 million.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally announced the development in a statement, outlining the contents of the fresh assistance. This package encompasses AIM-9M missiles geared for air defense, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, along with over 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
The recent aid initiative operates within the framework of a preceding directive from President Joe Biden, utilizing the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Under this approach, the weaponry and equipment are sourced directly from the inventory of the Department of Defense (DoD) for Ukraine’s benefit.
As per records from the DoD, this marks the 45th PDA-related military assistance effort provided to Ukraine by the Biden administration since August 2021. The latest inventory includes a range of armaments earmarked for deployment in Ukraine.
Since President Biden took office, the United States has committed over $43.7 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. This significant financial support encompasses more than $43 billion contributed since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, as per the DoD’s records.
Nonetheless, the continuous allocation of funds to Ukraine has stirred domestic opposition, notably from the Republican Party. Critics argue against the perpetual use of U.S. taxpayer money to augment Ukraine’s funding.
During the inaugural GOP primary debate on August 23, several of the party’s candidates for the 2024 presidential election voiced their disapproval of the Biden administration’s strategy of extending military support to Ukraine for an unspecified duration.
Businessman-turned-political-candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, when asked about his stance on the current White House approach to arming Ukraine, expressed his opposition. “I would not. And I think that this is disastrous,” he remarked during the debate. “We have to put the interests of Americans first, secure our own border instead of someone else’s,” he asserted.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, also a presidential hopeful, proposed that U.S. aid to Ukraine should be contingent on European nations contributing more financial support. “I will have Europe pull their weight. Right now they’re not doing that,” DeSantis declared.
