US is preparing a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine

6 September, 2024 Sending military aid from the USA to Ukraine.

2022. USA. Photo credits: dvdshub.net

U.S. President Joe Biden will announce a new £250 million military aid package for Ukraine on Friday. U.S.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated this at the opening of the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in the Ramstein format. According to him, now is a "critical moment" for Ukraine in light of the approach of winter. "So I'm pleased to say that President Biden will announce today an additional £250 million security-assistance package for Ukraine," Austin said.

Austin said the new package would offer more opportunities to meet Ukraine's growing needs.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Brussels, June 15, 2022, Frame from the video

The Minister did not specify what exactly would be included in the new package. He emphasized that if Russia was allowed to seize a neighbor, all countries would be less secure.

"If autocrats conclude that nations of goodwill will lose our nerve and abandon our principles, our world will become far more dangerous," the U.S. Secretary of Defense said. It is possible that the package might include AGM-158 JASSM air-launched cruise missiles.

As previously reported, the U.S. is close to an agreement to give Ukraine AGM-158 JASSM long-range cruise missiles. According to US officials cited by Reuters, Kyiv would need to wait several months as the U.S. works through technical issues ahead of any shipment.

AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile.

2015. Photo credits: U.S.

Air Force

The debate surrounding the JASSM and the Biden administration's willingness to explore its transfer makes the missile the latest in a long line of sophisticated weaponry once considered off-limits for transfer to Ukraine.

At the end of August, during a meeting with US officials, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umierov handed over a list of targets deep in the Russian Federation that the Ukrainian Armed Forces want to hit with US ATACMS missiles.

In particular, these are airfields that Russian aviation uses to strike Ukrainian cities.