Biden readies US$375 million arms aid package for Ukraine, according to sources
US President Joe Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during a bilateral meeting, during NATO's 75th anniversary summit, in Washington, Jul 11, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis)
WASHINGTON: The United States is preparing a US$375 million military aid package for Ukraine, breaking a months-long trend towards smaller packages for Kyiv for its military operations against Russia, two US officials told Reuters on Friday (Sep 20).
The latest package comes at a crucial time in the war, as Russia pummels Ukraine's energy grid ahead of the critical winter months.
The aid package, expected to be announced next week, includes patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), 155 and 105 millimeter artillery ammunition, spare parts and other weapons, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The contents and size of the package could change in the coming days ahead of the president's expected signature.
Since May, the US has not sent an aid package greater than US$275 million using Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA).
PDAs allow the US to draw from current weapons stocks to help allies in an emergency. In August, as Ukraine was pressing an incursion into Russia and losing territory in its east to Russian advances, the US sent two packages, both for US$125 million each.
Pro-Ukraine US congressional leaders and President Joe Biden's administration are working towards an agreement to seek a one-year extension of about US$5.5 billion worth of PDA for Ukraine that is due to expire this month.
There was bipartisan support for the plan to include the extension of the PDA in a Continuing Resolution, a short-term emergency spending bill that the Senate and House of Representatives must pass to avoid a Sep 30 government shutdown.
The authority set to expire in days was granted in a supplemental spending bill passed in April after a long delay by Republican opponents of Ukraine aid.
April also saw an increase in funds to buy new weapons that would replenish the US weapons stocks drawn down by Ukraine PDA packages. Experts envisioned these new orders would boost the order backlogs of weapons makers like RTX, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman.
