Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. will send $100 million in additional military aid to Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The State Department and Pentagon made the announcement Tuesday evening.
As Ukraine’s forces bravely continue to combat Russia’s renewed invasion, I have authorized $100 million to meet an urgent need for additional anti-armor systems for Ukraine’s forces.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 6, 2022
“The world has been shocked and appalled by the atrocities committed by Russia’s forces in Bucha and across Ukraine. Ukraine’s forces bravely continue to defend their country and their freedom, and the United States, along with our Allies and partners, stand steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Blinken said in a statement from the State Department.
The announcement marked the sixth time the Department of Defense has authorized spending for Ukrainian military aid since August.
“I have authorized, pursuant to a delegation from the President earlier today, the immediate drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $100 million to meet Ukraine’s urgent need for additional anti-armor systems. This authorization is the sixth drawdown of arms, equipment, and supplies from Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine since August 2021,” the statement noted.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the U.S. has invested more than $1.7 billion in security assistance toward the former Soviet republic.
“Combined with $300 million in assistance announced by the Department of Defense on April 1 under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, this additional drawdown brings the total U.S. security assistance commitment to Ukraine to more than $2.4 billion since the beginning of this Administration, and more than $1.7 billion since the beginning of Russia’s brutal assault against Ukraine began on February 24,” Blinken wrote.
In addition to America’s large investment, the statement pointed out that more than 30 nations have joined in providing security assistance to Ukraine.
“In addition to what we have provided, more than 30 countries have joined us to deliver security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began. Together, we are delivering security assistance every day, and we are expediting shipments of even more of the arms and defense equipment Ukraine is using to defend itself,” the statement said.
In addition to military aid, the U.S. and other Western nations on Wednesday are set to announce additional sanctions against Russia.
“After several European countries announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the European Commission proposed a fifth package of sanctions including a ban on coal imports that could be adopted as soon as Wednesday once unanimously approved by the 27-nation bloc’s ambassadors,” the Associated Press reported.
Blinken also shared the focus on sanctions during an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday.
“We’re tightening the existing sanctions. We’re adding new ones. We’re doing it in full coordination with Europeans and other partners around the world. And one of the results is that the Russian economy is reeling. There are forecasts by most of the major forecasters that its economy is going to contract by 10 percent this year,” he said.