NYT: US to provide $800 million in military aid to Ukraine

The United States has agreed to provide Ukraine with $800 million in military aid aimed at boosting the country’s production of long-range drones, marking a significant shift in Washington's military support strategy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the development during a briefing on October 21, expressing optimism that this first disbursement would strengthen Ukraine’s defence industry and enhance its capacity to combat Russian forces, Caliber.Az reports, citing NYT.

The US decision underscores a new approach to supporting Kyiv, shifting from purchasing American-made weapons to directly investing in Ukraine's domestic military production. This comes after numerous Ukrainian appeals for more autonomy in manufacturing weapons, particularly long-range capabilities.

The Pentagon, while confirming the aid package, highlighted that the move aligns with a broader strategy to bolster Ukraine’s ability to fight the war on its own terms. For months, Kyiv has pushed for access to long-range missiles, though Western nations, including the US, have been reluctant to allow strikes deep into Russian territory. Ukrainian-produced drones, capable of striking targets over 1,000 miles away, have become crucial to Kyiv’s long-range strategy.

Ukraine’s defence minister, Rustem Umerov, stated that the country has already invested over $4 billion in its defence industry. Speaking alongside US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Kyiv, Umerov praised the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones, which have reportedly destroyed over 200 military facilities in Russia.

Western officials recently lauded Ukrainian strikes on Russian ammunition depots in September, which resulted in substantial damage, including the destruction of 100,000 tons of Russian and North Korean-supplied ammunition.

This new phase of military cooperation with the US follows Ukraine's efforts to rally Western support for Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” which envisions increased Western aid to negotiate from a position of strength with Russia. However, Zelenskyy noted that many NATO allies were supportive of Ukraine joining the alliance, though key countries like the US and Germany remain cautious.

By Khagan Isayev