Updated: US unveils $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine

Editor's note: The article was updated with the content of the defense package as announced by the U.S. Defense Department.

U.S. President Joe Biden on May 10 authorized a $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine, according to a statement on the White House's website.

"I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State... to direct the drawdown of up to $400 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense... to provide assistance to Ukraine," the statement read.

The Pentagon unveiled the content of the new package, namely ammunition for Patriot and NASAMS air defenses, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, HIMARS systems and ammunition, 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells, and equipment to integrate Western launchers, missiles, and radars with Ukrainian systems.

The package further contains Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, M113 armored personnel carriers, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, trailers, TOW missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank launchers, precision aerial munitions, and High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs).

In addition, it contains small arms and small arms ammunition, demolition munitions, coastal patrol boats, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protective equipment, spare parts, and other ancillary equipment.

Politico reported earlier during the same day that the U.S. is preparing a new aid tranche to be announced later on May 10.

In April, the U.S. passed a long-awaited $61 billion aid package, with much of it covering military aid.

The Pentagon announced on April 26 that it was ready to move forward with sending $1 billion worth of weapons to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles.

Russia has taken advantage of Ukraine's growing battlefield ammunition shortages, taking the city of Avdiivka in February. Russian troops also continue to intensify attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure this spring.

US announces $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine

The U.S. will provide Ukraine with a $1 billion military aid package, the U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on April 26 before the beginning of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, also known as Ramstein format.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova