United States announces new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine

07/03/2024 / By Laura Harris

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced that the United States will provide an additional $2.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.

The aid package, sourced from the approved $60 billion supplemental military aid bill in Congress in April, will supply more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other munitions from U.S. military inventories. The funds will be used to order extra Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to protect Ukraine.

“Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support,” Austin said. “Alongside some 50 allies and partners, we’ll continue to provide critical capabilities that Ukraine needs to push back Russian aggression today and to deter Russian aggression tomorrow.”

During a Pentagon news conference with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on July 2, the two leaders discussed Ukraine’s immediate security needs and strategies to counter future Russian aggression.

“Ukraine is in a tough fight and has been ever since the start of Putin’s reckless war of choice,” Austin said during the meeting, which took place ahead of the 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Washington on July 9. “The Kremlin continues to intensify its bombardment of your cities and civilians. But I continue to be impressed by the skill of [Ukraine’s] forces and your troops continue to fend off Russia’s attacks with grit, ingenuity and courage.” (Related: U.K. cash cow: PM Sunak announces $3.2B in military aid for Ukraine.)

“As we look ahead to the NATO summit next week, Rustem, we’ll take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine,” Austin told Umerov. “Just weeks ago, President [Volodymyr] Zelensky and President [Joe] Biden signed a crucial 10-year bilateral security agreement. That reflects our strong and enduring support for Ukraine.”

The summit is anticipated to focus heavily on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Kyiv’s potential inclusion in the NATO alliance, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in April.

Civic activists arrested for allegedly planning to destabilize Ukraine

This decision came a day after the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) arrested several civic activists who were allegedly planning to seize the Ukrainian Parliament and destabilize the country.

According to the official website of SSU, the activists intended to announce a “removal from power” of Ukraine’s current military and political leadership through domestic and foreign media under the guise of “veche” or people’s assembly. The activists planned to gather participants for a rally in the center of Kyiv to destabilize Ukraine.

The main organizer enlisted several accomplices from NGOs based in Kyiv, Dnipro and other regions. The SSU thwarted the plot in its early stages, documenting the subversive activities and arresting the organizers. Searches of the suspects’ homes revealed weapons, ammunition, mobile phones, computer equipment and written records incriminating them.

The detainees have been charged under Articles 109.1, 109.2, and 109.3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertain to actions and call for actions that forcibly overthrow the constitutional order or seize state power. They face up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property if convicted.

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