The US is sending Ukraine $400 million more in military aid and establishing a security assistance headquarters in Germany that will oversee all weapons transfers and military training for Ukraine, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Notably, the $400 million in aid includes funding for additional air defences to help Ukraine better defend itself against escalating Russian missile and drone attacks that have badly damaged the country's power and water infrastructure.
"We recognise the acute need for air defence at this critical moment when Russia and Russian forces are raining missiles and Iranian drones down on the civilian infrastructure of this country," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a press conference in Kyiv Friday following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Sullivan is one of the highest ranking US officials to visit Kyiv, and his trip had not been previously announced for security reasons, reports AP.
The $400 million in aid also includes contracts for 1,100 Phoenix Ghost drones, funding to refurbish 45 tanks and an additional 40 riverine boats.
The Phoenix Ghost drone is an armed "kamikaze drone" that explodes on contact with its target.
The T-72 tanks are being pulled from existing defence industry inventory in the Czech Republic - paid for by The Netherlands - and will have advanced optics, communications and armour packages. They are part of a total package of 90 of the T-72 tanks that will be sent to Ukraine through 2023, the Pentagon said.
Additional air defence will be provided through Hawk surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles that will be refurbished provided to Ukraine to assist in its air defences against drones.
The missile system is no longer in use by the US but the missiles, once refurbished, will give Ukraine another medium-range air defence option, Singh said. Hawk missiles have a longer range than the Stinger anti-aircraft missiles the US has previously provided.
However, because the weapons are being procured through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative they will not be ready for immediate transfer to Kyiv. Weapons provided through USAI funding are obtained through longer-term industry contracts instead of being drawn from US weapons stockpiles.
The new command post, called the Security Assistance Group Ukraine, signals a more permanent, long-term programme to continue to aid Kyiv in its fight against Russia, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters at the Pentagon.
The new command post that will oversee this aid will be led by a three-star-level senior officer and have about 300 personnel based in Germany who will monitor the weapons assistance and training programmes, said US Army Europe spokesman Col. Martin O'Donnell.
The US has committed more than $18.2 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since the war began on Feb 24.
The new command post is being established as the US is focusing on longer-term efforts to improve accountability for the billions of dollars in US weaponry that has flowed into Ukraine and to ensure it does not fall into the wrong hands.
Last week the State Department outlined how it is trying to keep some of those more advanced weapons from being pilfered or falling into Russian hands but admitted that ensuring weapons accountability is particularly difficult during an active war and when there is no major US presence on the ground.
The plan includes limited on-the-ground monitoring by US military personnel, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Gen. Pat Ryder said this week.
"When and where security conditions permit, a small team comprised of US Embassy Kyiv - Office of the Defense Attache personnel have conducted multiple inspections of US security assistance deliveries within the last couple months at locations in Ukraine," Ryder said. "These locations are not near the frontlines of Russia's war against Ukraine."
