The United States announced a military aid package worth $250 million to Ukraine on Wednesday. According to the US State Department, the latest package includes air defence, artillery, small arms ammunition, and anti-tank weapons. However, this will be the last of such packages until the US Congress approves more funding requests by the Joe Biden administration.
“This package provides up to USD 250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, according to ANI. “Capabilities provided in today’s package include air defence munitions, other air defence system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition,” the statement added.
Although the war effort has broad support in the US Congress, the Republicans have stalled any agreement on further arms deals and insist that tougher security measures on the US-Mexico border must be part of any military aid deal, according to the BBC. However, Ukraine has warned that the war effort and its public finances are at risk if further Western aid is not made available.
With a stalled counter-offensive in the eastern region and minimal change along the line of control, Ukrainian officials are confronting the possibility of a reduction in support from allies in Washington and Europe.
Earlier this month, an emergency spending measure was defeated in the Senate, which aimed to allocate $50 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Notably, every Republican voted against the measure, along with Bernie Sanders, an independent who typically aligns with Democrats. He has voiced reservations about Israel’s military actions against Hamas. Subsequently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy failed to sway lawmakers.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Hungary blocked a €50 billion ($55 billion; £43 billion) aid package for Ukraine proposed by the European Union. This setback arrives at a critical juncture for Ukraine, grappling with a substantial $43 billion (£33.6 billion) budget deficit. Ukrainian officials say they may have to delay salaries and pensions for government employees if further military aid from the West does not come soon.
The United States has been the top donor country when it comes to military aid to Ukraine. In recent weeks, the US has unveiled two security packages for Ukraine, valued at $200 million and $175 million, respectively.