The Biden administration has pledged a new military aid package of $1.2 billion for Ukraine, bringing the total amount of U.S. support since its war with Russia began to $36.9 billion.
In an announcement, the Pentagon said, “The Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package to reaffirm the steadfast U.S. support for Ukraine, including to bolster its air defenses and sustain its artillery ammunition needs.”
The declaration highlighted the purchase of 155mm artillery rounds, something the West has struggled to supply Ukraine with, given the pace of usage by Ukraine’s military in its war against Russia.
US to purchase new equipment from Ukraine for aid package
The new equipment will not come from U.S. military stocks but instead, be purchased from defense contractors from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) fund.
The aid package will include additional air defense systems and munitions for Ukraine, given that leaked Pentagon documents warned that Ukraine’s air defense munitions were running low.
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Ukraine’s air defense systems face critical missile shortage
According to one leaked document, Ukraine would run out of missiles for the S-300 and Buk air defense systems by May 3 and April 13, respectively.
The shortages paint a dire picture for Ukraine’s front-line troops as the ability to provide medium-range air defense to protect the front-line troops will be completely reduced by May 23.
“Ukraine’s ability to provide medium-range air defense to protect the FLOT will be completely reduced by May 23. Ukraine assessed to withstand 2-3 more wave strikes. As 1st Layer Defense munitions run out, 2nd and 3rd Layer expenditure rates will increase, reducing the ability to defend against Russian aerial attacks from all altitudes”, said the Pentagon document.
Ukraine’s military faces readiness concerns for counter-offensive
Despite their efforts to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces in the spring, there are indications that the Ukrainian military may not yet be adequately prepared.
According to The Guardian, Czech President Petr Pavel commented on his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying, “They still have a feeling that they do not have everything to successfully start an operation.”
“It will be extremely harmful to Ukraine if this counteroffensive fails because they will not have another chance, at least not this year,” Pavel said, adding that Ukraine would face “terrible losses” during the counteroffensive.
“Because it’s extremely demanding in terms of putting together personnel equipment, ammunition logistics, fuel financing. It will simply be one chance this year, so it has to be successful,” he said.
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