US President Joe Biden signed a law providing for the allocation of a new package of military assistance to Ukraine totaling $60.64 billion. Previously, the corresponding bill was approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the US Congress.
More than a third of the total, $23.2 billion, will be allocated to replenish US reserves. $13.8 billion is earmarked for arms purchases for Ukraine, $11.3 billion for “ongoing U.S. military operations in the region,” $7.9 billion for maintaining the functioning of the Ukrainian government, and $26 million for continued oversight of aid provided to Kyiv. The document, in particular, provides for the transfer of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced that the details of supplies had been agreed upon with Biden.
The provision of military assistance to Ukraine will be carried out on two tracks within the framework of the President Drawdown Authority scheme, which allows the American president to transfer weapons to an ally directly from his arsenals, or under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program, under which the administration enters into long-term contracts for the production of weapons and equipment for Kyiv .
Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said that the first weapons will be transferred to Ukraine within a few days of the signing of the law. Politico has learned that the new package, which is being prepared to be sent to Ukraine, will include armored vehicles, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, HMWWV military multi-purpose vehicles, M113 armored personnel carriers and various ammunition. There will also be artillery and air defense shells.
