New aid package for Ukraine will meet its longer-term needs - Pentagon

A new $1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine that was announced on Tuesday provides for the production of new weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces or their acquisition from partner countries and will cover Ukraine's longer-term security needs.

U.S. Defense Department Spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said this at a briefing on Tuesday, May 9, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

He said that the new package is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which makes it possible to procure weapons from industry or partners instead of drawing down from the immediate stocks of the U.S. Department of Defense.

"The next step in this process will be to look at funding additional capabilities in order to meet Ukraine's longer-term needs," Ryder said.

The U.S. administration on May 9 announced a new military aid package for Ukraine intended to bolster its air defenses and sustain the artillery ammunition needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The package includes 155 mm artillery rounds, additional air defense systems and munitions, drone ammunition, as well as equipment to help integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukraine's existing systems.