US to send $2.3 billion in crucial military aid to Ukraine ahead of next weeks NATO summit

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon will send Ukraine a $2.3 billion military aid package ahead of next week’s US-hosted NATO summit, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday – after increasing security measures for American troops in Europe.The package, which will come from the $60 billion supplemental military aid bill that Congress passed in April, is expected to include “more air defense inceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions from US inventories,” Austin said.Some funding will also be used to order additional Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems critical to defending Ukraine’s airspace from Russia’s onslaught, he said.“It will also enable the United States to procure more Patriot and NASAMS air defense interceptors, which will be provided on an accelerated timeline by the re-sequencing of deliveries for some foreign military sales,” Austin said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sought the weapons systems since the war’s first months.He said in February that his country needed more Patriots to effectively keep his people safe from Moscow’s frequent strikes on civilian targets such as apartment buildings, hospitals and schools.Austin made Tuesday’s announcement standing alongside Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon, where the two met to discuss “Ukraine’s immediate security needs and to build a future force to ward off more Russian aggression,” the US defense secretary said.“Ukraine is in a tough fight and has been ever since the start of Putin’s reckless war of choice,” Austin said.“The Kremlin continues to intensify its bombardment of your cities and civilians.“But I continue to be impressed by the skill of [Ukraine’s] forces and your troops continue to fend off Russia’s attacks with grit, ingenuity and courage.” Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update.

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