On Wednesday, Democrat President Joe Biden’s administration announced it would be sending an additional $1.85 billion in military aid to Ukraine – bringing the total amount of military aid sent to Ukraine to $21.9 billion under the Biden administration.
As explained in a press release from the Department of Defense, the $1.85 billion in additional military aid for Ukraine will include “a Patriot air defense battery and munitions.”
According to a Department of Defense senior official, “Patriot is one of the world’s most advanced air defense systems, and it will give Ukraine a critical long-range capability to defend its airspace. It is capable of intercepting cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft. It’s important to put the Patriot battery in context. For air defense, there is no silver bullet. Our goal is to help Ukraine strengthen a layered integrated approach to air defense.”
“Patriot will complement a range of medium and short-range air defense capabilities that we have provided and the allies have provided in prior donation packages,” the official added.
As explained in a press release from the State Department, this “will bring total U.S. military assistance for Ukraine to an unprecedented $21.9 billion since the beginning of the Administration.”
The State Department also indicated that the Biden administration intended to send additional money to Ukraine.
“Today’s assistance for the first time includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems,” the press release said. “The United States will continue to work closely with more than 50 allies and partners worldwide in support of the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary courage and boundless determination. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, so that Kyiv can continue to defend itself and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table when the time comes.”
