US Announces IDR 121 Trillion Military Aid To Ukraine Including Long-range Missile Delivery

US President Joe Biden/PHOTO via Instagram @potus

JAKARTA - United States (US) President Joe Biden announced military aid worth more than US$8 billion (equivalent to Rp121 trillion) for Ukraine to win the war against Russia.

The aid includes the first shipment of precision-guided glide bombs called Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 km).

These medium-range missiles give Ukraine a major increase in the weapons they use to attack Russian troops, allowing Ukraine to do so at safer distances.

Bombs capable of striking targets with high accuracy will be dropped from fighter jets. Biden will not announce Washington will allow Ukraine to use US missiles to reach deeper targets in Russia, a US official said.

Supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is a top priority for the US, Biden said in a statement.

"That's why, today, I announce increased security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional measures to help Ukraine win this war," Biden said.

Most of the new aid, amounting to $5.5 billion, will be allocated before the end of the US fiscal year on Monday, when the funding authorities will end.

The remaining $2.4 billion was disbursed through Ukraine's Security Assistance Initiative, allowing the government to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than withdrawing from US shares.

This will provide Ukraine with additional air defenses, unmanned aerial systems, and air ammunition to the ground, as well as strengthen the Ukrainian defense industry base and support its maintenance and maintenance requirements, Biden said.

Based on the plan, the president said, the Department of Defense would renew and provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense batteries and more Patriot missiles.

Biden ordered the Pentagon to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting additional 18 pilots training next year.