Even without a $20 billion military aid proposal the Senate is considering, the United States is already the largest donor of military aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against a Russian invasion.
On Monday, President Biden called on Congress to approve the proposal, saying the money for shipments to Ukraine should run out in 10 days.
The latest package, part of a nearly $40 billion aid bill, goes beyond arms shipments and represents a long-term commitment to U.S. involvement in the war. The money would also be used to increase the production of US weapons stocks to replenish the large amount of weapons already sent to Ukraine.
Help approved by the
House of Representatives
4.4
European
Ordered
Operations
6
Ukraine
Security
Assistance
Initiative
Includes weapons
and training
8.7
Replenishment
US stocks
0.6
Defense
Production Law
0.05
Ammunition and
Exportability fund
Source: foreign assistance.gov
Help approved by the
House of Representatives
6
Ukraine
Security
Assistance
Initiative
Includes weapons
and training
8.7
Replenishment
US stocks
4.4
European
Ordered
Operations
0.6
Defense
Production Law
0.05
Ammunition and
Exportability fund
Source: foreign assistance.gov
Help approved by the
House of Representatives
6
Ukrainian security
Aid initiative
Includes weapons
and training
8.7
Replenishment
US stocks
4.4
European
Ordered
Operations
0.6
Defense
Production Law
0.05
Ammunition and
Exportability fund
Source: foreign assistance.gov
Help approved by the
House of Representatives
6
Ukrainian security
Aid initiative
Includes weapons and training
8.7
Replenishment
US stocks
4.4
European
Ordered
Operations
0.6
Defense
Production Law
0.05
Ammunition and
Exportability fund
Source: foreign assistance.gov
[West sees race against time in Ukraine as Russia advances]
Rising military spending, along with a recent decision to send more advanced equipment, point to a recognition that the war could drag on, experts said.
“We used to provide aid packages every week or two to avoid defeat,” said Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “But then we realized that this thing could go on for quite a while.”
Cancian noted that the budget approved by the House goes until the end of the fiscal year, suggesting that the war could last at least four more months.
The figures in perspective
Every year, the United States spends billions of dollars to finance the armies of partner countries, including Israel and Jordan. But in less than three months, commitments to Ukraine exceeded those numbers. If the Senate passes the package, the pledge will eclipse annual US military assistance to its closest partners.
US military aid to other countries
Israel received the most aid from the United States in fiscal year 2020, the latest data available.
Ukraine
Since
February 24
to May 6
Source: foreign assistance.gov
US military aid to other countries
Israel received the most aid from the United States in fiscal year 2020, the latest data available.
Ukraine
Since
February 24
to May 6
Source: foreign assistance.gov
US military aid to other countries
Israel received the most aid from the United States in fiscal year 2020, the latest data available.
Ukraine
From February 24
to May 6
Source: foreign assistance.gov
Analysts see military aid from the West as vital to Ukraine’s success against a much larger adversary.
“If the United States and other countries had not sent lethal aid from the start, Ukraine would have been overwhelmed from the start and the Ukrainian government would now be a Russian puppet,” Cancian said. “Because militaries in combat need a continuous supply of ammunition and equipment to replace losses, the United States and other nations needed to continue the flow of supplies.”
Aid accounts for more than half of Ukraine’s military budget last year. By some estimates, the nearly $20 billion increase would bring the US contribution to almost a third of Russia’s annual military budget, although some analysts estimate that Moscow is spending up to $200 billion on its military, although more than the official figures.
Military
spent
in 2021
US military aid
sent to Ukraine
Approved by
the House
$20 billion
U.S. military aid since
the start of the war
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Military
spent
in 2021
US military aid
sent to Ukraine
Approved by
the House
$20 billion
U.S. military aid since
the start of the war
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Military
spent
in 2021
US Army
help sent to
Ukraine
US military aid
from the beginning
of the war
Approved by
the House
$20 billion
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Military
spent
in 2021
US Army
help sent to
Ukraine
US military aid
from the beginning
of the war
Approved by
the House
$20 billion
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
The evolution of war
As warfare has changed, so have the weapons supplied by the United States. At first, when a convoy of Russian vehicles headed for kyiv, American assistance included anti-tank weapons, including Javelin missiles. These weapons lock onto a target’s thermal profile and can hit a tank top-down or top-down.
[What to know about the Javelin antitank missiles in Ukraine]
Areas under Russian control before and after
the refoulement of kyiv
Sources: Institute for the Study of War,
AEI Critical Threat Project, Publication of Reports
Russia pushed
back from Kyiv
On March 16 package, the United States sent Ukraine 2,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles.
On April 13 package, the United States sent Ukraine 18 howitzers, a long-range weapon.
Areas under Russian control before and after
the refoulement of kyiv
Sources: Institute for the Study of War,
AEI Critical Threat Project, Publication of Reports
Russia pushed
back from Kyiv
On March 16 package, the United States sent Ukraine 2,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles.
On April 13 package, the United States sent Ukraine 18 howitzers, a long-range weapon.
Areas under Russian control before and after
the refoulement of kyiv
Sources: Institute for the Study of War, AEI Critical Threats Project, Post report
What the United States
sent to Ukraine
Russia pushed
back from Kyiv
On March 16 package, the United States sent Ukraine 2,000 Javelin anti-tank missiles.
On April 13 package, the United States sent Ukraine 18 howitzers, long-range weapons.
After logistical and military failures shattered Moscow’s plans to seize the Ukrainian capital, Russia shifted its focus to the east and the United States began sending in long-range artillery suited to the open ground battles. US-supplied howitzers are heavy guns that fire artillery shells up to 24 miles.
[Western artillery surging into Ukraine will reshape war with Russia]
More could have been done faster, said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “The main shift I’ve seen is kind of a hesitation and excessive delay in assist before the invasion to really agility and creativity after.”
Cancian noted that while early weapon shipments included javelins, which require at most two people to operate, new shipments included dozens of howitzers, which require at least five people. Howitzer training for Ukrainian troops began last month.
“There was a recognition, I think, that time was available,” he said.
Before and now:
how are the main weapons sent by the United States used?
The mounted on the shoulder Anti-Tank Javelin The missile system can be used by a crew of two or even a single soldier and is capable of disabling an armored vehicle up to 2½ miles away.
the M777 and M198 missile systems the United States send weigh 7,500 pounds and 15,772 pounds and need five to nine soldiers for surgery. They can reach up to 24.9 miles and 14 miles. The United States has sent nearly 200 howitzers since April 13.
Sources: Federation of American Scientists;
US Department of Defense; GlobalSecurity.org
Before and now:
how are the main weapons sent by the United States used?
The mounted on the shoulder Anti-Tank Javelin The missile system can be used by a crew of two or even a single soldier and is capable of disabling an armored vehicle up to 2½ miles away.
the M777 and M198 missile systems the United States send weigh 7,500 pounds and 15,772 pounds and need five to nine soldiers for surgery. They can reach up to 24.9 miles and 14 miles. The United States has sent nearly 200 howitzers since April 13.
Sources: Federation of American Scientists;
US Department of Defense; GlobalSecurity.org
Before and now:
how are the main weapons sent by the United States used?
The mounted on the shoulder Anti-Tank Javelin The missile system can be used by a crew of two or even a single soldier and is capable of disabling an armored vehicle up to 2½ miles away.
the M777 and M198 missile systems the United States send weigh 7,500 pounds and 15,772 pounds and need five to nine soldiers for surgery. They can reach up to 24.9 miles and 14 miles. The United States has sent nearly 200 howitzers since April 13.
Sources: Federation of American Scientists;
US Department of Defense; GlobalSecurity.org
Before and now:
how are the main weapons sent by the United States used?
the M777 and M198 missile systems the United States send weigh 7,500 pounds and 15,772 pounds and need five to nine soldiers for surgery. They can reach up to 24.9 miles and 14 miles. The United States has sent nearly 200 howitzers since April 13.
The mounted on the shoulder Anti-Tank Javelin The missile system can be used by a crew of two or even a single soldier and is capable of disabling an armored vehicle up to 2½ miles away.
Sources: Federation of American Scientists;
US Department of Defense; GlobalSecurity.org
As Western weapons continue to flow into Ukraine, Russia’s ally Belarus is also stepping up its involvement in the war. Belarusian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Viktor Gulevich said on Tuesday that the army would send special forces to its border with Ukraine because “the United States and its allies continue to increase their military presence at state borders.
Alex Horton and William Neff contributed to this report.
washingtonpost Gt