US announces new Ukraine aid package loaded with anti-air supplies

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Biden administration rolled out a new military assistance package for Ukraine on Wednesday amid ongoing Russian airstrikes across the country that have increasingly targeted the capital.

The latest tranche includes munitions for the Patriot air defense system, which National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Ukraine has been using "quite effectively."

It also includes additional Avenger air defense systems, more shoulder-launched Stinger air defense weapons, additional HIMARS long-range rockets and anti-armor munitions, said Kirby.

"The G7, our allies and partners, stand firmly behind us in this effort. We can continue to expect to see that support will continue going forward," he told reporters at the White House.

The announcement comes as Ukraine faces mounting Russian sorties, including 17 rounds of airstrikes in May alone. Ukraine said Monday it fended off Russian shelling on its capital that included 67 air targets, including more than three dozen cruise missiles and three dozen drones.

Kirby did not provide a dollar amount for the armaments, but they are being provided under what is known as presidential drawdown authorities, which allow the US to transfer weapons from existing stocks to allies and partners.

The US has committed more than $37 billion to Ukraine since Russia began its war in February 2022, increasingly providing more sophisticated weaponry as the conflict has dragged on.

That now includes sophisticated air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, long-range rocket and artillery weapons and will soon boast the US' premier main battle tank, the M1 Abrams.