U.S. Approves Fresh Ukraine Military Aid Boost: Total Now at $32 Billion (and Rising)

A fresh package of direct U.S. military aid for Ukraine worth $400 million is expected to be approved Friday. The boost takes the total in taxpayer dollars the Pentagon has released to $32 billion with no end in sight as it continues to draw down existing weapons stocks.

U.S. officials told AP news service eight M60A1 vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers or other gaps will form the bulk of the latest delivery. Large amounts of ammunition, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, will also be sent on their way.

Officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the aid package has not yet been publicly announced, AP set out.

The M60A1 Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) is a portable, 60-foot folding metal bridge carried atop a tank body.

Providing that system now could help Ukrainian troops as they launch an expected offensive and make it easier for troops to cross rivers to attack Russian forces.

The vehicle bridges and ammunition will be taken from Pentagon stocks through the presidential drawdown authority, so they will be able to be delivered quickly to the warfront.

The aid will also include an undisclosed amount of rounds for howitzers, other ammunition, demolition munitions and other equipment to clear obstacles, spare parts and equipment for vehicle maintenance and repair.

The total amount in U.S. aid to Ukraine has long eclipsed the annual military budget of every country in the world except the United States and China.

The passage of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill last December grants Ukraine $45 billion in military and economic aid, making the total to date $113 billion, as Breitbart News reported.

The latest release of U.S. military hardware comes against a backdrop of continued allegations of corruption to the very highest levels of the Ukraine government.

Earlier this year a string of senior Kiev officials were sacked or resigned amidst a flurry of corruption claims.

Those shown the door were accused of taking illicit payments as the Ministry of Defence allegedly signed overinflated military contracts.

The move followed a different corruption scandal which saw Infrastructure deputy Vasyl Lozinskyi sacked and detained for an alleged theft of $400,000 from the winter aid budget.

A recent report from Transparency International found Ukraine ranked as the second most corrupt country in Europe, losing only to Russia, which ranked first. Ukraine also ranked as the 116th most corrupt country in the world, although it rose one rank since 2021.

 

Releated

Wyoming Becomes First State to Outlaw Abortion Pills

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed a bill on Friday outlawing abortion pills, making the state the first to do so in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The “Prohibiting Chemical Abortions” bill mandates that any physician or person who distributes, prescribes, or otherwise provides abortion pills could face prison for a maximum […]

Joe Biden Issues First Veto to Reject Bill Reversing ESG Rule

Joe Biden issued his first veto on Monday, rejecting a bipartisan bill that would have reversed his Labor Department rule allowing left-wing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies to be considered in retirement investing. “I just vetoed my first bill,” Biden said in a tweet announcing the move. “This bill would risk your retirement savings […]