U.S. announces new security assistance package for Ukraine

The U.S. government has announced a significant new security assistance package for Ukraine, which includes ammunition for HIMARS systems, interceptors for air defense systems, artillery rounds and other weapons.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said this at a briefing in Washington on Wednesday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The Biden-Harris administration is announcing a significant new security assistance package for Ukraine as the United States continues to support Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion," she said.

She did not name the total cost of the new aid package but noted that this announcement is the seventh security assistance package that President Biden has authorized to help Ukraine since he signed the national security supplemental in April. The supplemental included more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Jean-Pierre clarified that the new package includes missiles for Ukraine's air defense systems, ammunition for HIMARS systems, artillery rounds and other critical capabilities that are being drawn down from U.S. stocks using presidential drawdown authorities.

In addition, the package includes new funding that the U.S. Department of Defense will use to purchase interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems "to help Ukraine defend its troops and its cities from Russia's aerial attacks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on July 2 that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the U.S. would soon announce an additional $2.3 billion in security assistance for Ukraine.

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