Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken granted approval on Feb. 20 for the 32nd withdrawal of U.S. weaponry and equipment to Ukraine since August 2021, with an estimated value of $450 million.
“Today the United States announced more security assistance for Ukraine to repel Russian aggression and maintain its energy infrastructure. We stand #UnitedWithUkraine,” Blinken said in a tweet.
The U.S. will send more ammunition for the HIMARS and Howitzers provided by the U.S., Blinken said in the press statement, "that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend their country," as well as additional anti-armor systems, Javelins, and air surveillance radars. Blinken said in the statement that he also has sanctioned an extra $10 million for initiatives to provide emergency aid and keep Ukraine’s energy infrastructure operational.
The U.S. has allocated $13 billion in grant funding to support Ukraine’s budget and is slated to disburse an additional $9.9 billion, which Congress recently authorized, according to a Feb. 21 White House fact sheet. Using the World Bank’s Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance mechanism, the U.S. has granted budgetary aid to Ukraine on a reimbursement basis, which guarantees that funds are distributed to Ukraine after verification of expenditures.
More than 30 allies and partners have implemented against Russia the most extensive collection of sanctions and export control measures ever imposed on a significant economy, the fact sheet reports. The U.S. has sanctioned Russia’s largest financial institutions and has implemented increasingly extensive restrictions on military and industrial goods that could potentially support Russia’s defense industry.
Congress has repealed Russia’s permanent normal trade relations status, thereby eliminating Russia’s advantages in international trade and imposing higher tariffs on hundreds of Russian products imported into the U.S. Russia has had to turn to “rogue regimes” to procure weapons and equipment due to their inability to manufacture enough supplies for military operations, according to the WH fact sheet.
"One year ago, Putin thought he could quickly topple Ukraine," the White House states in the fact sheet. "He thought he could divide our allies and partners. He was wrong. Ukraine still stands. The international coalition in support of Ukraine is stronger and more united than ever."
