According to two U.S. officials informed on the $725 million package who spoke to Reuters on Friday, the following security aid package from the Biden administration for Ukraine is anticipated to contain weapons and vehicles but not significantly new capabilities or counter-air systems.
The relief shipment, which might arrive this Friday, is the first since recent Russian rocket strikes on Ukrainian cities with human populations.
Under the condition of anonymity, the officials stated that the timing, nature, and cost of the weapons package might all alter right up to its release.
According to one of the officials, the aid package was intended to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to resist Russia’s counteroffensive, which has resulted in significant territorial gains in recent weeks, even though it was not anticipated to include materials to thwart missile attacks like those witnessed over the past week.
Separately, Ukraine anticipates receiving powerful anti-aircraft equipment from the United States and Germany this month to aid it in fending off strikes from Russian missiles and kamikaze drones, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Friday.
By utilizing the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the weapons and trucks can be sent to Ukraine in the coming days.
The Presidential Drawdown Authority enables the United States to immediately move defense goods and services from inventories in response to an emergency without seeking legislative permission.
President Joe Biden may access up to $3.7 billion in more weaponry for delivery to Ukraine through mid-December under this, the second PDA package of the 2023 fiscal year of the United States government, which is presently operating on a stop-gap financing arrangement.
In general, Washington utilizes money from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to finance weapons for Ukraine, including the advanced anti-aircraft NASAMS systems anticipated this month, rather than taking them from existing U.S. military supplies.
Kongsberg of Norway and Raytheon Technologies Corp. jointly produce NASAMS.
Regarding the package, the White House chose not to comment.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the United States has provided security support totaling more than $17.5 billion.
