Military equipment was delivered to Ukraine in the form of security assistance from the United States.
US officials are expected to announce a military aid package for Ukraine to fight against Russia on Monday. The military assistance is worth $2.6 billion and might include fuel trucks, anti-tank rockets, and air surveillance radars. The officials stated that the specific equipment and dollar amount in this package are subject to change. The list of equipment is expected to be finalised this weekend, with around half a dozen types of munitions on the list, including tank munitions to meet the country’s critical defence and security needs.
Other equipment includes an additional round of NASAMS(National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) air defences given to Kyiv by the United States and its allies, along with bridging equipment that can be used to assault Russian positions, precision aerial munitions, and recovery vehicles to assist with disabled heavy vehicles like tanks. All of this military assistance, comprising of $2.1 billion, is funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). This initiative allows the administration of President Joe Biden to buy weapons and equipment directly from the industry rather than from the US weapons stock.
The President Drawdown Authority funds allow the President of the United States to use the current US weapons stock in an emergency situation. The rest of the amount, which is around $500 million, mainly includes munitions intended to help Ukraine push a spring offensive against the Russian invasion. This amount is expected to come from the President’s Drawdown Authority funds. Since the invasion, the United States has pledged a total of $30 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
United States support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
Ukraine is a key strategic regional partner for the United States and its allies across the world. It has taken immense efforts to modernise its military and operate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The United States and its allies are in support of Ukraine’s response against the violation of territorial integrity by Russia. To demonstrate their unwavering and steadfast support, the US has invested in security assistance worth more than $33.2 billion since January of 2021.
The United States has been of major assistance, not just by providing monetary help and defence equipment but also by providing training and advisory services. The Global Security Contingency Fund has provided $42 million for this purpose. This is a joint programme of the US Departments of State and Defence. Under this programme, Special Operations Forces, National Guards, combat medical care, and more have been provided to Ukraine. Thus, making assistance to Ukraine its key priority.
Success of US military aid to Ukraine
The Ukrainian military has defied expectations in the war against Russia, with many believing that the US shares credit for this success. The US provides billions of dollars in aid to many countries like Afghanistan and Iraq but has seen only varying degrees of effectiveness. The major reason the assistance failed to work elsewhere but succeeded in Ukraine was the motivation of Ukraine’s leadership. Foreign support would have been of little consequence if institutional reforms had not been prioritised by the leaders.
When Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s leadership discarded its previous notions of narrow-mindedness and implemented stringent battlefield reforms and innovations. This focused motivation of Ukraine’s leaders made provisions for security assistance effortless. The Ukrainian leaders no longer have to be persuaded by the United States advisors with regards to implementing reforms. Weapons and ammunition are the only requirement to go against Russia, which have been exceptionally delivered by the United States to Ukraine.
