US announces new military aid for Ukraine with air defense - artillery - anti-tank weapons.

On march 12, 2024, the United States announced at the Pentagon Press Briefing an emergency military aid package of $300 million to support Ukraine, in response to Congress blocking additional funding. The announcement comes as Polish leaders visited the White House, warning of the growing threat from Russia.
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Ukrainian 59th brigade fires on the frontline near Donetsk, December 23, 2022 (Picture source: Pierre Crom/Getty Images )

President Biden stressed that this arms delivery, while crucial, would be insufficient in the long term, calling on Congress to release its larger $60 billion aid package for Ukraine.

The White House said that this package, the 55th tranche of assistance, was the first since December. It would include Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, additional ammunition for HIMARS - ATACMS missiles, 155-millimeter artillery shells, including shells for improved high-explosive and dual-use cluster munitions, 105-millimeter artillery shells, AT4 anti-armour systems, additional ammunition for small arms, demolition ammunition for obstacle clearance, spare parts, maintenance, and other auxiliary ammunition.

The package was made possible by savings made by the Pentagon on other purchases, allowing Biden to bypass the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, warned that Ukraine is now in one of the most perilous phases of the war since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Moscow's recent advances in eastern Ukraine after months of stalemate are causing growing concern in the West. During the White House briefing, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the aid comes as Ukraine "does not have enough ammunition to fire back."

 "The package includes munitions and rounds to help Ukraine hold the line against Russia's brutal attacks for the next couple of weeks,” President Joe Biden said in a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the White House, adding, "we must act before it is too late.”

CIA Director William Burns also warned of the price of inaction, stressing that Ukraine is "running out of ammunition, and we're running out of time to help." Poland, which has taken in around a million Ukrainian refugees, is among the NATO allies particularly concerned about paralysis in Washington.

Polish President Duda, who met the US President on March 12, 2024, proposed that NATO members increase their defense spending to three percent of GDP in response to the war in Ukraine, noting that Poland already spends around four percent, while the US spends 3.5 percent on its defense.

Defense News March 2024