Arming Ukraine: A closer look at US military aid since 2021

The United States and Ukraine have reached an agreement to resume U.S. military aid, along with resuming intelligence sharing, the two countries said Tuesday. Ukraine also agreed to a proposed ceasefire in its war with Russia. President Donald Trump had recently halted all future shipments of military aid.As shipments could begin again soon, here's a look at what exactly was in the military aid sent by the United States so far, how much was sent and how a resumption could impact Ukraine’s war efforts.The US has given $69 billion in military aidThe U.S. is the largest single donor to the war-torn nation, sending at least $123 billion in total aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Military aid made up $69 billion of that, or 56% of the U.S. total, according to data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank that closely tracks wartime aid to Ukraine.Ukraine has expanded its domestic production of military equipment including the manufacturing of drones and artillery munitions. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said recently it now produces more than 30% of the equipment and ammunition needed to defend itself.Zelenskyy has stated that military supplies from the U.S. cover about 40% of its defense needs, with other — mostly European — allies making up the other approximately 30%.Europe had rallied behind Ukraine in the days following the disastrous Oval Office meeting, pledging to strengthen its support for Kyiv as U.S. foreign policy shifts away.What the military assets areAmong the specific equipment sent from the U.S. to Ukraine are air defense systems, drones, rocket launchers, radars, tanks and anti-armor weapons.The U.S. has been supplying Ukraine with military equipment under the Presidential Drawdown Authority since August 2021 in response to Russia preparing to launch its full-scale invasion. The mechanism allows the president to draw equipment for Ukraine directly from U.S. stocks.The U.S. has used this method on 55 occasions to provide about $31.7 billion worth of military assistance for Ukraine, according to a report from the State Department.Stopping the flow of this aid would have been disastrous for Ukraine, with one Ukrainian official warning that the country could have run out of vital artillery shells by May or June.While the EU intended help fill some gaps, there are some things only the U.S. can provide, for example the Patriot air defense system, which has proven uniquely effective in countering Russian ballistic missiles. The U.S. controls the licensing and the production of that system and its missiles.The US beats out Europe on supplying heavy weaponsAs Ukraine’s top military aid donor, the U.S. has sent the most howitzers (a type of artillery weapon), anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile systems and multiple launch rocket systems. Meanwhile, Poland has supplied and pledged the most tanks, Kiel Institute data shows.Here’s the status of delivered and pending shipments as of the end of 2024:It would have been extremely difficult for Ukraine’s European allies to fill the United States’ shoes. In 2023, overall military expenditures for the 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom totaled around $388 billion, whereas the U.S. spent $916 billion, or about two times as much. The U.S. also allocated 9% of government spending to defense, which was the highest among NATO countries, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

WASHINGTON —

As shipments could begin again soon, here's a look at what exactly was in the military aid sent by the United States so far, how much was sent and how a resumption could impact Ukraine’s war efforts.

The US has given $69 billion in military aid

The U.S. is the largest single donor to the war-torn nation, sending at least $123 billion in total aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Military aid made up $69 billion of that, or 56% of the U.S. total, according to , a German think tank that closely tracks wartime aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine has expanded its domestic production of military equipment including the manufacturing of drones and artillery munitions. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said recently it now produces more than 30% of the equipment and ammunition needed to defend itself.

Zelenskyy has stated that military supplies from the U.S. cover about 40% of its defense needs, with other — mostly European — allies making up the other approximately 30%.

Europe had rallied behind Ukraine in the days following the disastrous Oval Office meeting, pledging to strengthen its support for Kyiv as U.S. foreign policy shifts away.

What the military assets are

Among the specific equipment sent from the U.S. to Ukraine are air defense systems, drones, rocket launchers, radars, tanks and anti-armor weapons.

The U.S. has been supplying Ukraine with military equipment under the Presidential Drawdown Authority since August 2021 in response to Russia preparing to launch its full-scale invasion. The mechanism allows the president to draw equipment for Ukraine directly from U.S. stocks.

The U.S. has used this method on 55 occasions to provide about $31.7 billion worth of military assistance for Ukraine, from the State Department.

Stopping the flow of this aid would have been disastrous for Ukraine, with one Ukrainian official warning that the country could have run out of vital artillery shells by May or June.

While the EU intended help fill some gaps, there are some things only the U.S. can provide, for example the Patriot air defense system, which has proven uniquely effective in countering Russian ballistic missiles. The U.S. controls the licensing and the production of that system and its missiles.

The US beats out Europe on supplying heavy weapons

As Ukraine’s top military aid donor, the U.S. has sent the most howitzers (a type of artillery weapon), anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile systems and multiple launch rocket systems. Meanwhile, Poland has supplied and pledged the most tanks, Kiel Institute data shows.

Here’s the status of delivered and pending shipments as of the end of 2024:

It would have been extremely difficult for Ukraine’s European allies to fill the United States’ shoes. In 2023, overall military expenditures for the 27 EU member states and the United Kingdom totaled around $388 billion, whereas the U.S. spent $916 billion, or about two times as much. The U.S. also allocated 9% of government spending to defense, which was the highest among NATO countries, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

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