DOD: Security Assistance Support to Ukraine Not Affecting U.S. Readiness
APRIL 14, 2022 | BY C. TODD LOPEZ, DOD NEWS
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Feb. 24, the U.S. government has provided $2.6 billion in security assistance to the Ukrainians to help them regain and defend their sovereignty. Much of what has been sent has come straight out of U.S. military stockpiles. Nevertheless, the U.S. military's own readiness has not been affected by having sent that gear overseas, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby during a briefing today.
"I can assure you that we are not at the point where our inventories of these systems have ... or will imminently affect our readiness," Kirby said. "We're comfortable that our stocks are in keeping with our readiness needs. But we obviously know that, as these packages go on, and as the need continues inside Ukraine, we want to lead turn. ... We want to be ahead of the bow wave on that and not get to a point where it becomes a readiness issue."
Yesterday, the Defense Department announced an additional $800 million security assistance "drawdown" package to support Ukraine. A drawdown package allows the president, in certain circumstances, to withdraw existing weapons, ammunitions and material from U.S. military stocks to provide to other nations.
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3000355/dod-security-assistance-support-to-ukraine-not-affecting-us-readiness/
