On February 26, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced additional financial assistance for Ukraine. "Today, as Ukraine bravely and proudly fights a brutal and unprovoked Russian attack, I have authorized, on behalf of the president, an unprecedented $350 million third aid package to immediately support Ukrainian defense," the State Department said in a statement posted on its website.
Blinken noted that after Russia invaded and partially occupied Ukraine in 2014, the U.S. "stepped up efforts to help Ukraine deter further Russian aggression."
The diplomat recalled that last fall, when Russia began pulling troops to the border with Ukraine, he authorized $60 million in military aid for Ukraine and another $200 million in December.
The new aid package will include lethal defensive weapons "to help Ukraine deal with the armored, airborne and other threats it now faces," the State Department said.
A spokesman for U.S. President Joe Biden's administration clarified in a comment to CNN that the U.S. would supply Ukraine with anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems, small arms, ammunition of various calibers, body armor and "related equipment."
"This is another clear signal that the United States supports the people of Ukraine defending their sovereign, courageous and proud nation," Blinken said. - Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic and peace-loving nation. The United States and Ukraine have been partners since Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago."
On Feb. 25, Biden issued a memorandum to the secretary of state regarding "immediate military assistance" to Ukraine. The document allows $350 million to be sent to Ukraine in defense articles, Defense Department services, military education and training, and another $250 million if it is important to U.S. security interests.
The total amount of U.S. aid allocated to Ukraine over the past year for security sector support exceeded $1 billion, the State Department reported.
