Sending in the big guns for Ukraine

A $400 million military aid package unveiled Friday by the Pentagon will provide Ukraine with surface-to-air missiles, artillery rounds and other much-needed weaponry and equipment to hold off Russian advances in the war-torn country’s northeast.

Friday’s package is the third tranche of aid for Kyiv since Congress approved $60 billion in additional funding last month.

It includes munitions for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems; Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammunition; howitzer artillery rounds; High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs); Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles; M113 Armored Personnel Carriers; and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, among other equipment.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the firepower heading Kyiv’s way as “significant” and “urgently needed” as Russian forces made a renewed bid to capture Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv.

“As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine in its defense of its freedom,” Blinken said.

The package also includes coastal and riverine patrol boats; trailers; TOW and Javelin missiles; AT-4 anti-armor systems; precision aerial munitions and demolitions munitions; ammunition for small arms; grenades; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective equipment and spare parts.

The weapons are being sent through the president’s drawdown authority, which pulls from existing Defense Department stockpiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he hopes to have the weapons on the battlefield as soon as possible.

“This is exactly what we need. Thank you,” Zelensky said.