US president Biden prepares $375 million arms aid package for Ukraine

The United States is preparing a $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, marking a departure from the recent trend of smaller aid packages, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on Friday.

The new package comes as Ukraine faces increased pressure from Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

The aid, expected to be announced next week, includes patrol boats, ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, spare parts, and additional weaponry, according to the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The exact contents and size of the package could change in the coming days before President Biden is set to approve it.

Since May, the US has not sent any aid packages exceeding $275 million using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the US to draw from its current weapons stockpiles to assist allies in emergencies. In August, as Ukraine faced challenges with its military operations and territorial losses in the east, the US provided two smaller packages, each worth $125 million.

President Joe Biden’s administration, along with pro-Ukraine leaders in Congress, is pushing for a one-year extension of the PDA, which currently provides $5.5 billion worth of support for Ukraine but is set to expire this month. There is bipartisan backing for including the extension in a Continuing Resolution, an emergency spending bill that Congress must pass to prevent a government shutdown on 30 September.

The PDA was originally granted as part of a supplemental spending bill passed in April, following delays caused by Republican opposition to Ukraine aid.

The April bill also increased funding to replenish US weapons stocks, with defence companies like RTX, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman expected to benefit from the resulting orders.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.