The United States continues to provide material and technical support to Ukraine. On May 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the U.S. President had approved another $100 billion military aid package for Ukraine. However, yesterday the U.S. Senate approved $40 billion so far. Of this amount, $19.7 billion will go to arm the AFU, $8.8 billion for economic recovery, and $4.35 billion for food and various humanitarian issues.
It may be noted that this is already the tenth American package of military assistance to Ukraine since August 2021. The total amount of American military aid officially allocated to Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine has now reached $3.9 billion, and since March 2021 – about $4.6 billion. This is only the official part, also these figures do not take into account the unofficial part of the expenses and the expenses that went into the pockets of companies that are involved in the production of weapons.
The U.S. Department of Defense reported that the newly approved $100 billion military aid package includes supplies intended “to meet Ukraine’s critical needs during the current hostilities as Russian forces continue their offensive in eastern Ukraine.
When it comes to total Western aid to Ukraine, the amount will exceed $100 billion. This is approximately 100% of Ukraine’s entire economy. From January to May 2022, 36 Western countries donated $65.5 billion in aid to Ukraine: $34.7 billion for arms, $18.5 billion for the economy, and $12.5 billion for humanitarian purposes. Countries and organizations donated different amounts of money:
- U.S. – $43 billion,
- Britain – $4.8 billion,
- The European Commission – $4.1 billion,
- Poland – $2.6 billion,
- Germany, $2.35 billion,
- France – $2.1 billion,
- Canada – $2 billion,
- Italy – $0.48 billion,
- Norway, $0.32 billion,
- Sweden and Japan $0.29 billion each.
Earlier in April and early May, in previous aid packages, the United States had already provided Ukraine with a variety of equipment. The previous deliveries included 90 M777 155mm/39 howitzers, 72 Oshkosh FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles) M1083 prime movers for them, and 209 thousand artillery shells for them. Now the total number of howitzers M777 and 90 Oshkosh FMTV M1083 prime movers to be transferred by the US to the Ukrainian side will reach 108. It is also said to be working on providing Ukraine with long-range anti-ship missiles.
This time the U.S. Senate and the president of the U.S. decided on the financing of Ukraine rather quickly. Although the project, which was earlier approved in the U.S. to provide 40 billion dollars in military aid to Ukraine, was discussed for a very long time and caused lively discussions in the Senate. Based on this, U.S. politicians are increasingly starting to agree that Ukraine needs military aid. Most likely, future U.S. financial projects for Ukraine will no longer take time and will be accepted even faster.
The Pentagon confirmed the information about the provision of military assistance and published a list of the equipment to be provided. The shipment of these weapons will be made soon. The new U.S. military aid package to Ukraine includes:
- 36 counter-battery radars.
- 18 155mm howitzers.
- 18 tactical vehicles.
Most of the agricultural products are exported through the sea. In this light, the U.S. is considering supplying Ukraine with advanced Harpoon and NSM anti-ship missile systems to fight the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. The U.S. White House, according to some officials, is working on supplying modern anti-ship missiles to the Ukrainian armed forces to help overcome the Russian naval blockade, amid fears that more powerful weapons, which can sink Russian warships, will only escalate the confrontation.
Therefore, this issue has two sides: on the one hand, Ukraine does not want to provoke Russia to increase its military might in the Black Sea, and on the other hand, it needs to restore grain supplies. Ukraine has made no secret of its need for more advanced American capabilities, in addition to the artillery pieces, Javelin and Stinger missiles, and other weapons it receives. Among other things, Kyiv’s wish list includes missiles that could push the Russian Navy away from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, thereby allowing it to resume shipments of grain and other agricultural products for delivery around the world.
U.S. military assistance to Ukraine would prolong the conflict indefinitely in the long run. However, it remains to be seen when Western countries will feel the lack of money and begin to refuse further aid to Ukraine.