UPDATE - US announces over $3B in military aid for Ukraine, European partners

ADDS PENTAGON'S STATEMENT

By Michael Hernandez and Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US announced an additional tranche of military assistance of over $3 billion for Ukraine and European partners on Friday.

The new package includes a $2.85 billion drawdown from existing US military stocks to provide Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, artillery systems, armored personnel carriers, surface to air missiles, ammunition and other equipment, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

An additional $225 million in foreign military financing is being provided to Ukraine "to build the long-term capacity and support modernization of Ukraine’s military," Blinken said.

The US Department of Defense confirmed in a separate statement that the over $3 billion in military aid to Ukraine includes the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $2.85 billion.

It said the package includes 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 100 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers along with other equipment such as surface-to-air missiles and ammunition.

The US will also send additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon welcomed Germany’s contributions to support the US in aiding Ukraine, saying: “The Biden Administration will continue to encourage Allies and partners to make additional donations of air defense systems, artillery, combat vehicles, and other critical capabilities to support Ukraine in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity for as long as it takes.”

Some $682 million is being provided to Washington's European partners to "incentivize and backfill donations of military equipment to Ukraine," Blinken added.

The top diplomat did not specify to which countries the funds would flow.

Total US military assistance since President Joe Biden assumed office now stands at $24.9 billion.