US greenlights $200 million Ukraine arms sales for M777 howitzer support, logistics
Editor's note: The story was updated with comments by Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal.
The U.S. approved foreign military sales for Ukraine worth over $200 million for artillery support, transportation, and logistics, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Aug. 6.
"The first package includes equipment, repairs, and technical support for M777 howitzers, valued at $104 million," Shmyhal said on X.
The announcement comes amid a shift in Trump administration policy, marked by new weapons deals with Ukraine as the country faces ongoing Russian aggression.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the deal on Aug. 5, saying that the U.S. State Department had greenlit the funds. The support includes technical assistance, training, publications, and other logistical support, with BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, the U.K., as the principal contractor.
According to the agency, the deal will strengthen Ukraine’s ability to conduct self-defense and regional security missions without altering the basic military balance, and will not require the deployment of additional U.S. government or contractor personnel.
The second package amounts to $99.5 million and covers transport, cargo consolidation, and logistics, Shmyhal said.
"Entirely funded by partner countries, these packages are a boost to Ukraine’s defense and regional security," the defense minister noted, adding that the packages are a result of an agreement between President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement follows the State Department’s July 24 approval of two other potential military sales to Ukraine worth an estimated $330 million.
The first package, valued at around $150 million, covers equipment and services to repair and maintain M109 self-propelled howitzers. The second, worth roughly $180 million, provides sustainment and upgrade support for air defense systems, including U.S.-made Patriot systems.
These deals are part of a broader effort to strengthen Ukraine's ability to maintain and sustain key military systems as it continues to defend against Russia's ongoing invasion.
