Biden orders earmarking another $1 bln in military aid for Ukraine

WASHINGTON. Dec 21 (Interfax) - United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday instructed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to oversee the disbursement of another $1 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

"I hereby delegate to the secretary of state the authority [...] to direct the drawdown of up to $1 billion in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine," the White House reported citing the president's statement.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the new package of assistance will include Patriot surface-to-air missile systems.

"Today's assistance for the first time includes the Patriot air defense system, capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkenis qouted as saying in a statement released by the U.S. Department of State.

Ukraine will receive weapons for precision-guided strikes, "additional munitions and critical equipment" as part of the package of assistance worth $1 billion, Blinken said.

Therefore, since the beginning of the current U.S. administration, it has provided military aid to Ukraine worth "an unprecedented $21.9 billion," he said.