WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is anticipated to announce it would send $1.25 billion in military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, amid pushes from the Biden administration as much help as possible for Kyiv before leaving office on January 20.
The large aid package includes a big amount of ammunition, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It may also supply Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, officials said.
The officials, who said they expected Monday's announcement, spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose details not yet released.
The latest aid comes as Russia has launched a spate of attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities in recent days, although Ukraine says it has intercepted a big variety of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are still engaged in a bitter battle across the Russian border region of Kursk, during which Moscow was also involved sent 1000’s of North Korean troops to assist reclaim territory captured by Ukraine.
Earlier this month, senior defense officials admitted this was the case The Department of Defense may not give you the option to broadcast All of the Pentagon's remaining $5.6 billion in weapons and equipment stockpiles have been approved by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.
Trump has talked and talked about reaching some form of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many U.S. and European leaders worry that this might lead to a foul deal for Ukraine and worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with the entire arms funding approved by Congress.
The aid included in the brand new package is a presidential withdrawal authority that permits the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and quickly send them to Ukraine. This latest aid would cut back the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion.
Officials said they hope an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine's position should Zelensky determine it’s time to negotiate.
A senior defense official said that while the U.S. would proceed to produce Ukraine with weapons through Jan. 20, there should still be resources available to the brand new Trump administration.
There also stays about $1.2 billion in longer-term Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding, in line with the Pentagon, which will likely be used to pay for weapons contracts that won't be delivered for a 12 months or more. Officials said the federal government expects to release all the cash before the top of the calendar 12 months.
If the brand new package is included, the U.S. may have provided greater than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
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