US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a new $6 billion aid package for Ukraine as Washington tries to make up for a delay in supplies to Kiev after months of congressional gridlock, AFP reports.
The new package is the second to be announced this week, following the announcement of one billion dollars in aid for Kiev on April 24. Both sums are part of the $61 billion budget to aid Kiev passed by Congress this week and subsequently signed by Joe Biden as Ukraine now faces difficulties in its war with Russia.
While the $1 billion in aid announced will come from U.S. Army stockpiles, the aid announced today will come from contracts with the defense industry or partners. That means it will take longer to reach the battlefield.
After signing a $61 billion bill to provide military and economic aid to Ukraine, Joe Biden promised a rapid and large-scale delivery of weapons.
The United States is Kiev's main military backer, but Congress had not passed a major package for its ally for nearly a year and a half - mainly because of partisan bickering.
Before this week, Washington had announced aid to Ukraine only once this year: a $300 million package in March that was made possible only by Pentagon savings from other purchases.
The acceptance of this aid plan is a relief for the Ukrainian army, which is facing a shortage of recruits and ammunition amid constant pressure from Russian troops in the east. The authorities predict a deterioration of the situation on the front, which could occur as early as mid-May.
And while the return of U.S. aid will allow the Ukrainian army to regain the initiative against Russia, preparing a counteroffensive will take much longer, according to a U.S. military official.
"The Ukrainians have been rationing their ammunition for some time, so the Russians, in short, have regained the initiative," a U.S. military official said on condition of anonymity.
Allied military assistance "will allow the Ukrainians to begin to regain the initiative," but "it will not be a quick process," he added.
It will take time for the new supplies to be received and put into action, "just to defend their positions. So at first I don't expect any large-scale offensive." / BGNES
