Biden Unveils $225 Million Military Aid Package for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden announced a new $225 million military aid package for Ukraine during the NATO Summit. The package includes a Patriot air defense system to bolster Ukraine's protection against Russian airstrikes. Additional contributions from NATO allies were also revealed.

US President Joe Biden has announced a $225 million military aid package for Ukraine, which includes a Patriot air defense system to help Ukraine protect its skies from Russian airstrikes, The Hill reported. This announcement was made during a meeting between Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit held on July 10 in Washington DC.

This is the second Patriot system the US has promised to Ukraine. The system will be taken directly from the US military's inventory and sent to Ukraine quickly, as per The Hill. The air defense system is among several others that Biden announced this week at the summit.

At the event on July 9, Biden teased the "historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine," noting that the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy would provide Kyiv with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems. A joint statement from the US, Germany, and Romania later confirmed they would give Ukraine Patriot batteries. The Netherlands would provide components for another Patriot battery, and Italy would provide a SAMP-T air defense system.

Biden added that in the coming months, the US and its partners will supply Ukraine with "dozens of additional tactical air defense systems." This week, NATO countries pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russian attacks.

The promise comes after a recent escalation in violence, including a missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv on July 8 that killed at least 42 people. The hospital strike was part of a larger attack that targeted five Ukrainian cities with over 40 missiles. NATO's support aims to help Ukraine continue to resist Russian aggression. NATO is a military alliance of 31 countries from North America and Europe, committed to mutual defense and cooperation.

The $225 million package also includes munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAM), Stinger antiaircraft missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, and more 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds, among other munitions, according to a Pentagon list of the aid. The new announcement comes after the US last week promised to send more military aid to Ukraine, worth $150 million, through a special program that allows the President to quickly provide weapons from US stocks. Additionally, the US pledged $2.2 billion to help Ukraine buy advanced weapon systems, such as Patriot missiles and NASAM air defense systems, from American manufacturers.

(With inputs from agencies.)