US looks to 'change battlefield dynamics' in Ukraine with new $3bn military package

The United States has continued to show its strong support for Ukraine after announcing more than $3.75bn in new military assistance.

US Department of Defense (DOD) officials unveiled the package of military capabilities "to help Ukraine drive the Russian invaders from their soil".

According to the DOD, this will include the authorisation of a presidential drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $2.85bn to meet Ukraine's critical security and defence needs.

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The Department of State has also announced $225m in foreign military financing that will contribute to the long-term capacity and modernisation of Ukraine's military.

"The war in Ukraine is at a critical point right now, and we have to do everything we can to help the Ukrainians continue to resist Russian aggression," Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said.

The presidential drawdown authority announced is the largest the US has committed to so far.

Ms Cooper continued: "We will ensure Ukraine has both the equipment and the skill necessary to sustain its efforts to push back on Russian aggression."

The DOD statement highlights that US officials are continuing to look at what Ukraine needs to fight the Russian invaders.

"Their battlefield needs have evolved over time," Ms Cooper added.

Included in the US's 29th such drawdown of equipment from DOD inventories for Ukraine are:

• 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 rounds of 25mm ammunition;
• 100 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers;
• 55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs);
• 138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);
• 18 155mm self-propelled Howitzers and 18 ammunition support vehicles;
• 70,000 155mm artillery rounds; 
• 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds;
• 1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems;
• 36 105mm towed Howitzers and 95,000 105mm artillery rounds;
• 10,000 120mm mortar rounds;
• Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• RIM-7 missiles for air defence;
• 4,000 Zuni aircraft rockets; 
• Approximately 2,000 anti-armour rockets;
• Sniper rifles, machine guns, and ammunition for grenade launchers and small arms;
• Claymore anti-personnel munitions;
• Night vision devices and optics;
• Spare parts and other field equipment. 

In the DOD statement, they highlight that the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, other armoured vehicles and artillery systems will complement the recent commitment of combat vehicles to Ukraine by Germany and France.

Notably, the US welcomed Germany's commitment to join the US in supporting Ukraine's urgent requirement for air defence capabilities by also supplying one Patriot air defence battery to Ukraine.

In total, the US has committed more than $24.9bn in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration.

Since 2014, the US has committed more than $27bn in security assistance to Ukraine and more than $24.2bn since the beginning of Russia's invasion on 24 February.