U.S., Germany Pledge $1.4B Weapons Package to Ukraine

The U.S. and Germany have announced a $1.4 billion military aid package for Ukraine, providing critical weaponry as the country continues to face Russian advances.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed the security situation and military assistance during a call, according to Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary. The U.S. package, valued at $725 million, marks the 71st drawdown of equipment from Department of Defense inventories since August 2021. The assistance includes air defense systems, artillery munitions, rocket systems, and antitank weapons, addressing Ukraine’s urgent battlefield requirements.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged €650 million ($685 million) in military aid during a surprise visit to Kyiv, reinforcing Germany’s position as a key European supporter of Ukraine. His visit marked the first bilateral visit by a German leader in more than two years.

The aid package, set to be delivered by the end of the year, reportedly includes IRIS-T air defense systems, Patriot missile launchers, and Gepard anti-aircraft systems. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Germany for the rapid delivery of military equipment, which aims to bolster Ukraine’s air defense and ground combat capabilities.