As it starts to disperse the $6.2 billion in funds discovered after a Pentagon accounting error overvalued billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, President Joe Biden’s administration will announce $200 million in additional weapons aid for Ukraine as soon as Tuesday, U.S. officials told Reuters.
When staff utilized “replacement value” rather than “depreciated value” to tally the billions worth of ammunition, missiles, and other equipment transferred to Ukraine, they made the error, according to a Pentagon announcement in May.
In order to continue fighting Russia’s invasion, Ukraine requires weapons that can be supplied from American stores in a matter of days or weeks. As a result, the accounting blunder benefited Kyiv by allowing for the shipment of more equipment.
Since they are the last of the $25.5 billion in previously authorized Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) that the administration can use to ship weapons from U.S. stocks in the event of an emergency, U.S. officials said that the start of using these newly discovered funds is significant.
The U.S. officials added that Washington is presently putting up a supplemental budget request in order to keep helping Kyiv.
The $200 million that is anticipated to be announced on Tuesday would be the first installment of the $6.2 billion windfall from the previously approved Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), according to the officials.
Aside from other equipment, this package contained mine-clearing tools, TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons, firearms and ammunition, air defense interceptors made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) for the Patriot system, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, and Javelin anti-tank missiles made by a joint venture between Lockheed and RTX Corp (RTX.N).
