US Promises to Supply Ammunition to Ukraine Within Days

The United States could transfer ammunition to Ukraine within days following the signing of a defense aid bill that was approved in the House of Representatives yesterday. This was stated by Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder, as reported by the New York Times.

“We have a very sophisticated logistics network that allows us to move equipment very quickly, as we have done in the past,” Ryder said.

The military supplies will be transported by rail from Pentagon depots in Germany, the newspaper cited U.S. officials. Significant portions of the first aid package after a lengthy hiatus will include anti-aircraft and artillery ammunition, Ryder specified.

The last time the U.S. provided military assistance to Ukraine was in mid-March, when the Ukrainian armed forces received Stinger missiles, guided missiles for HIMARS, small anti-tank missiles, and 155 mm artillery ammunition, including cluster munitions.

The U.S. Congress had struggled to agree on the continuation of military supplies to Ukraine for over six months since last autumn. This was obstructed by Republicans controlling the House of Representatives, as well as former President Donald Trump, who has become a frontrunner for his party's nomination in the upcoming presidential election.

However, on April 20, the House passed a bill providing $60.64 billion in aid to Ukraine. This includes $23.2 billion to replenish U.S. stocks, $13.8 billion for buying weaponry, $11.3 billion for “current U.S. military operations in the region,” and $26 million for continuing oversight of aid to Kyiv. The act also proposes the transfer of Atacms long-range missiles to Kyiv.

The document has now been sent to the Senate for approval, which is controlled by Republicans. A majority of senators supported the bill before the House's approval, with a vote scheduled for April 23.

It will then require President Joe Biden's signature, who has repeatedly called on lawmakers to expedite the process and promised to sign the document promptly.

When asked how soon the U.S. would resume arms supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces, the White House responded, “Immediately, immediately.”

Russian officials have criticized the bill. “This will further enrich the United States and further destroy Ukraine; there will be more dead Ukrainians because of the Kyiv regime,” suggested presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised to “achieve peace through strength.”