Pentagon Announces $150M Ukraine Security Assistance Aid Package

The U.S. Department of Defense today announced a $150 million package as part of the Ukraine security assistance initiative.

The initiative is designed to help Ukraine's forces preserve their country's territorial integrity, and to improve interoperability with NATO.

"The package includes capabilities such as to counter artillery, radars, counter unmanned aerial systems, and secure communications," Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. This new package will complement a $125 million package announced in March.

DOD and counterparts in the State Department certified that Ukraine has made progress in defense reforms, allowing the package to move forward. "The department continues to encourage Ukraine to enact reforms that are in line with NATO principles and standards to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations," he said.

Also read: Ukraine Making Progress on Defense Reforms, But More Needed Before NATO Entry

The United States has committed more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014. The United States "will continue to strengthen our strategic defense partnership, including through the provision of defensive lethal assistance," the press secretary said.

According to the department's funding plan, over $69 million will be redirected to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) - $21 million for a command and control facility and some $48.7 million for an unmanned aerial vehicle hangar.

Kirby added that the Biden administration's cancellation of border barriers returned $2.2 billion to the Defense Department. The department released a memo signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks that redirects funds for 66 projects in 11 states, three territories and 16 countries this fiscal year.

"We announced … on April 30, the cancellation of all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds that were originally designed and meant for other missions and functions," Kirby said. "The decision to restore this funding was based on operational and component priorities."