The United States Department of Defense (DoD) announced via the Pentagon on Friday that it has authorized an additional military aid package to assist Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
The authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance, valued at up to an additional $150 million, is the ninth renewal of supplies from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.
The package, which is designed to help Ukraine fight Russia's ongoing barrage of rockets that began on February 24, includes 25,000 rounds of 155mm artillery and field equipment.
US President Joe Biden said on Monday he was willing to accept Congress passing separate bills to aid Ukraine and to provide funding for the nation's COVID-19 response.
Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an appeal to allies and supporters for more heavy weaponry.
"I just spoke with President Zelensky and shared with him that my administration is authorizing an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition and other security assistance to Ukraine," Biden said in April.
In a statement Monday, Biden called on Congress to move the Ukraine aid first, then move promptly to pass additional funding for the US response to COVID. The president had originally asked Congress to pass Ukraine aid and COVID funding in one bill.
Reuters and Michael Starr contributed to this report.