Additional $2.3 billion worth of weapons and ammunition planned for Ukraine, Pentagon says

The United States will provide an additional $2.3 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, interceptors and munitions, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin indicated early Tuesday that an aid package would be announced soon as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with him at the Pentagon.

“Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support,” Austin said. “Alongside some 50 allies and partners, we will continue to provide the critical capabilities Ukraine needs to repel Russian aggression today and deter Russian aggression tomorrow.”

Austin said the aid will be made possible by the Presidential Destocking Authorization, which allows the Defense Department to remove weapons from its stockpile and send them to Ukraine more quickly. The aid includes Patriot missiles and other air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and ammunition.

But Pentagon officials would not say Tuesday when the aid would be formally announced or when it would be delivered. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, would only say: “Soon.”

“We will soon be putting this package on the street as we continue to try to provide security assistance to [Ukraine]” he told reporters later in the day at a press briefing.

With the $2.3 billion, the United States has committed more than $53.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

“Thanks to this support, we stopped Russia, stopped the aggression against people, against our national values ​​and interests,” Umerov said, thanking Austin for his support.

Austin said Ukraine continues to be engaged in an ongoing struggle with Russia, with Russia stepping up its bombing of Ukrainian cities and civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that Russia had dropped more than 800 powerful glider bombs on Ukraine in the past week alone, the Associated Press reported.

Zelensky urged national leaders to ease restrictions on the use of Western weapons to strike military targets in Russia, saying Ukraine needs the “necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian warplanes, wherever they are.”

Austin did not say Tuesday whether the restrictions would be eased, but told Umerov the two men would discuss “further ways to address Ukraine's immediate security needs and to build a future force to repel any further Russian aggression.”

Ryder said the U.S. policy on using long-range weapons for an offensive attack against Russia “has not changed.” These weapons, he said, are intended for use on the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

Austin and Umerov met as NATO countries prepare for a summit of alliance members in Washington next week. Members are expected to coordinate security assistance and training for Ukraine's armed forces.

NATO officials have said in the past that it would be impossible for Ukraine to join the alliance while it is at war, with President Joe Biden telling CNN that such a move would turn NATO into a combatant in the conflict.

But Austin said Tuesday that the alliance would take steps “to build a bridge to Ukraine's membership in NATO” at the summit.

“I hope that Ukraine will receive its invitation soon,” Umerov said in Austin. “But for now we will discuss issues, how to increase our capabilities and projects.”