The United States is ramping up its support for Ukraine by sending additional weaponry, including 155mm shells and HIMARS ammunition, albeit at a significant cost.
The Biden administration announced on the 12th that it would be supplying Ukraine with weapons valued at $300 million. Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, revealed this during a White House briefing, emphasizing the urgent need for ammunition in Ukraine’s defense against Russia. He pointed out that the shortfall in ammunition posed not only a challenge for Ukraine but also incurred costs for the US and its NATO allies.
Sullivan clarified that the $300 million allocation was part of a negotiated budget for purchasing weapons to replenish Ukraine’s arsenal. He mentioned that while they had budgeted $130 per round for 155mm shells, the actual contract secured a lower cost at $93 per round.
However, concerns were raised within the US Department of Defense regarding the sustainability of this funding. An official noted that this injection of funds might be a temporary fix, with uncertainty surrounding future budget allocations.
Furthermore, there’s a recognition that supplying weapons to Ukraine isn’t a long-term solution, as Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have been reluctant to pass bills for additional military aid.
The weapons being provided include 155mm shells crucial for Ukrainian military operations, multiple-launch rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), short-range ATACMS missiles, and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. The HIMARS system, in particular, has proven effective in targeting Russian forces on the battlefield.
This isn’t the first time the US Department of Defense has found unexpected funding sources for Ukraine. Last year, accounting errors led to a $6 billion overestimation in the value of weaponry provided. However, the Department clarified that despite the accounting discrepancies, the quantity of weapons sent to Ukraine remained unaffected.
