Congress plans to provide $37 Million in Cyber Aid to Ukraine
The United States and Ukraine meet to reconvene the annual US-Ukraine Cyber Dialogue, and Washington steps up Cyber Aid to Ukraine.
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The US Capitol is seen in this photo on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
The Biden administration and Congress are collectively working toward sending $37 million in cyber aid to Ukraine after another round of the US-Ukraine Cyber Dialogue that took place in Tallinn, Estonia this month, the US State Department reported on Monday.
In a press release, the State Department said that the United States and Ukraine met in Tallinn on June 1, 2023, to reconvene the US-Ukraine Cyber Dialogue, which is an annual discussion on cyber policy issues, adding that "during the dialogue, the US delegation reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to support Ukraine's cyber defenses in the face of Russia's unprovoked aggression. As part of this support, the United States is working with Congress to provide an additional $37 million in cyber assistance to Ukraine."
Read more: US to announce fresh $1.2b military aid package to Ukraine
The new assistance would lift the total amount of US cyber aid to Ukraine to $82 million since February 2022 and to $120 million since 2016, the release added.
Moreover, the US Department of Defense released its new 2023 Cyber Strategy in May, saying that the document was partially informed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and described how the US military is expected to operate in cyberspace amid increasing threats.
On another note, near the end of May, the US announced a new $300 million military assistance package for Ukraine.. "We’ve got an upcoming package here, which will be the 39th drawdown of equipment," White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said during a press brief.
Significantly, the new package is set to entail munitions for Patriot air defense systems and other weapons announced Kirby, who said, "We [US] will use that package, that we’re announcing today, to provide Ukraine with additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems."
The package will further include Avenger air defense, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and other artillery, as well as anti-armor systems, according to the Spokesperson.
Read more: Biden authorizes $375mln PDA for Ukraine military package
