WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has approoved a drawdown of up to USD 450 million to fulfil Ukraine's critical need for armaments in the face of the escalating Russian assault, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced on Friday. 

This is the 13th presidential drawdown of DOD supplies, a statement from the Department reads. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Todd Breasseale was quoted in the statement as saying, "The US has committed approximately USD6.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including approximately USD6.1 billion since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked invasion on February 24."

The package includes 18 tactical vehicles to tow 155 mm artillery, 1,200 grenade launchers, 2,000 machine guns, 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats, 36,000 rounds of 105 mm ammunition, four high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats, spare parts, and other equipment, it said.

Since the beginning of the Biden administration, the US has pledged over USD6.8 billion in security aid to Ukraine, of which about USD6.1 billion has been given since February 24, when Russia began its attack.

Since 2014, the US has given Ukraine security aid totaling more than USD8.7 billion, the defense department said.

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