Biden government announces $3 billion in additional aid to Ukraine

The Biden administration is expected to announce its biggest security package on Wednesday Ukraine valued at $3 billion to date. The announcement will coincide with that six month anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The package will come from the Ukraine Security Assistance (USAI) cash proceeding, according to a US official, meaning the US will buy the weapons through contracts rather than drawing from Defense Department stocks and shipping them outright.

The government has used the USAI process in previous security packages for items such as medium-range air defense systems, surveillance drones, and counter-artillery radar systems. How long it takes for the weapons to get to Ukraine depends on the industry’s production lines.

The announcement of the package is expected on Wednesday, Ukraine’s Independence Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned against public Independence Day celebrations amid fears that Russia could carry out “particularly ugly” attacks.

The Foreign Ministry issued a warning on Monday that Russia may step up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days.

The occasion comes as the war in southern and eastern Ukraine continues.

A senior defense official told reporters last week that Russia sees “a complete and utter lack of progress.” The official noted that the Ukrainians are successfully attacking Russian capabilities, which could have long-term repercussions, but they have not retaken significant territory from Russia.