The Biden administration has announced a new military aid package of $1.2 billion for Ukraine to help bolster the country’s air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs, bringing the total amount of military aid given to Ukraine since its war with Russia began to $36.9 billion.

The equipment will be purchased new from defense contractors from a fund known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), rather than coming from U.S. military stocks.

The Pentagon’s purchase of 155mm artillery rounds was highlighted, as it is something the West has been struggling to supply Ukraine with given the pace of usage by Ukraine’s military in its war against Russia.

The Pentagon also noted that it would purchase “additional air defense systems and munitions” for Ukraine. Allegedly leaked Pentagon documents warned that Ukraine’s air defense munitions were running low, with one document stating that Ukraine would run out of missiles for the S-300 and Buk air defense systems used to defend against air attacks by May 3 and April 13 respectively.

Ukraine has been attempting to mount a “spring” counteroffensive against Russian forces, but there are indications that the Ukrainian military is still not ready.

Czech President Petr Pavel, who recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said, “Apparently, they still have a feeling that they do not have everything to start successfully an operation,” adding that Ukraine would face “terrible losses” during the counteroffensive and could not afford for it to fail. Pavel emphasized that putting together personnel, equipment, ammunition, logistics, fuel, and financing is extremely demanding and that “it will simply be one chance this year, so it has to be successful.”

The aid package comes as tensions continue to rise between Ukraine and Russia, with Russia amassing troops on its border with Ukraine and in Crimea.

The Biden administration has voiced its support for Ukraine, with President Biden stating that the United States stands with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The new aid package reaffirms the United States’ support for Ukraine and its commitment to helping the country defend itself against Russian aggression.

In announcing the aid package, the Pentagon stated that the United States remains “committed to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and to supporting the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.”

The aid package is part of the United States’ ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and security, including training and equipment.

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Overall, the new military aid package is intended to provide critical support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly in the face of continued Russian aggression.

As tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to escalate, the aid package is an important step in reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. As President Biden stated, “we will not waver in our commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”