US Authorizes $2.5 Billion in New Ukraine Military Aid Including Bradley, Stryker Vehicles

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Biden administration is authorizing a new $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine, including Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Stryker armored personnel carriers among other equipment, the Defense Department (DoD) said in a statement.

"This authorization, which is valued at up to $2.5 billion, is the Biden Administration’s thirtieth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. It contains hundreds of armored vehicles, critical support for Ukraine’s air defense and other important capabilities," the statement said on Thursday.

The package includes 59 Bradley and 90 Stryker vehicles, as well as a variety of artillery, anti-armor and small arms munitions, the statement said. The previous aid package included 50 Bradley, bringing the total to more than 100.

Additionally, the package includes eight Avenger air defense systems and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems previously provided by the United States, the statement added.

The Thursday package is the second-largest announced by the Pentagon, increasing the US' security aid to Ukraine to some $26.7 billion since the start of the special military operation.

The weapons package comes as US media reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration was reportedly considering providing Ukraine with weapons necessary to target the Crimean Peninsula.

It's alleged the Biden White House believes future negotiations would be vastly improved if Ukrainian forces are able to threaten control of Crimea, which serves as an instrumental area for the ongoing special military operation.