The United States Can Support Ukraine While Meeting Its Own Security Commitments > U.S. Department of Defense > Department of Defense News

On Friday, the Pentagon announced the latest security assistance package for Ukraine. It is worth around $725 million and contains additional ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System as well as ammunition for other systems as well.

While the U.S. military has provided a substantial amount of equipment from its own inventory to Ukraine, Pentagon Air Force press secretary Brig. General Pat Ryder said the Department of Defense is always mindful of its other security commitments and ensuring it maintains what is necessary to support those commitments.

“There’s a very detailed process…as we look at our security assistance to Ukraine, we weigh it against many different factors to include our own readiness,” Ryder said. “It’s something that we constantly take into account.”

Last month, for example, William A. LaPlante, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, chaired the first meeting of national armaments directors from member countries of Ukraine’s Defense Contact Group to discuss the state of the defense industrial base and examine opportunities to increase production of capabilities critical to Ukraine’s long-term defense.

Ryder said this type of meeting is part of an effort to ensure that the United States and partner nations continue to be able to support Ukraine while maintaining their own defense and remaining loyal to others. other commitments around the world.

“The key point here is that the United States, the international community, our allies, and our partners are all working together as an international community to ensure that we can continue to meet our security commitments while supporting the Ukraine – and that we do it together,” Ryder said. “At the end of the day, the U.S. military will be ready. We’re going to make sure we’re ready to deliver on our security commitments around the world.”

The latest support package includes, among other things, ammunition for the HIMARS system; 23,000 155mm artillery shells; 500 precision-guided 155 mm artillery shells; 5,000 rounds of 155 mm remote anti-armour mine systems; 5,000 anti-tank weapons, high-speed anti-radiation missiles; and over 200 Humvee vehicles.

As winter approaches, the weather will begin to affect the fighting in Ukraine. Ryder said questions about how Ukrainian soldiers can be equipped for this fight are being addressed in the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group and in talks with Ukraine.

“Winter will certainly present challenges for all parties on the battlefield,” Ryder said. “I think when you look at things like… rain, snow, mud [and] the impact it has on the field, it will certainly add another level of complexity to an already very dynamic battlefield. That’s why…you see us continuing to work very closely with Ukraine, with our international partners and allies to identify Ukraine’s needs.”

Ryder also told reporters that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III met with his British counterpart Ben Wallace today. The pair discussed support for Ukraine and the importance of cooperation between the two nations regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.