What does the new military aid package for Ukraine contain?

2024-04-27 16:12:15, Kosova & Bota CNA

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced massive military aid to Ukraine, estimated at around $6 billion. As VOA correspondent Carla Babb reports, analysts say the aid is desperately needed for Ukraine to regain the upper hand after months of ammunition shortages.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the largest aid package for Ukraine, with about $6 billion in further armaments from the US defense industry.

"You can be assured that we will act with maximum speed to enable these capacities as soon as the industry can produce them ," said Secretary Austin.

Ukraine waited several months for the US Congress to approve new aid, while attacks by Russian forces continued.

"They've gained ground and the Ukrainians have lost ground, retreating time and time again because they had no other choice, reducing the use of ammunition because they didn't have enough ," says Brad Bowman, Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

This was a central point of discussions on Friday of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine.

During the press conference that followed, VOA asked when the Ukrainians were expected to regain the upper hand.

"I cannot predict a moment in the future when Ukrainians will have this opportunity, but we can work for this future. "I think there are some short-term effects, as now the Ukrainians will not have to store ammunition because they know that with this aid package there will be further supplies ," said General CQ Brown, US Chief of Staff.

The $6 billion aid package builds on the $61 billion international aid bill signed into effect Wednesday by President Joe Biden.

This aid package includes anti-aircraft systems, as well as artillery and ammunition systems.

Secretary Austin did not say whether the aid package contains other long-range ATACMS missiles, but he confirmed that the Ukrainians already have the capacity to double the range of artillery strikes.

"It is already in their hands how and when to use them and we hope they will have good effects" , said Secretary Austin.

Analyst Brad Bowman has called for the United States to send long-range ATACMS systems to Ukraine as early as 2022.

"The delay was very unfortunate and had consequences on the battlefield, as many of these delays have. But it is very positive that they have been sent. The Ukrainians have already used them very effectively and you need more" , says Mr. Bowman.

Officials have cited concerns that removing long-range ATACMS systems from the U.S. stockpile would harm U.S. military readiness.

Secretary Austin told "Voice of America" ??that shortages in reserves are no longer a problem, since the United States has secured new missiles./ VOA