WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce $1.25 billion in military aid to Ukraine, officials said Friday, as the Biden administration works to push for a $1.25 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Send as much aid as possible to Kyiv Before leaving office on January 20.
This large amount of assistance includes a large amount of ammunition, including ammunition for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and the HAWK air defense system. The company will also provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery pieces, officials said.
The officials said they expected the announcement to be made on Monday but spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not yet been made public.
The new aid comes as Russia has launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine said it intercepted numerous missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian troops are still fighting fiercely in the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has been waging heavy fighting. North Korea sends thousands of troops Help regain territory occupied by Ukraine.
Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that DoD may not be able to send Before President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in, Congress passed full funding for Ukraine’s remaining $5.6 billion in weapons and equipment stockpiles.
Trump talks about reaching some form of negotiated solution between Ukraine and Russia, and talks about His relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many U.S. and European leaders worry that could lead to a bad deal for Ukraine and worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding Congress has approved.
The aid in the new package falls under the president’s drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off shelves and quickly ship them to Ukraine. The latest aid will reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion.
Officials say they hope the massive aid will help strengthen Ukraine if Zelensky decides it’s time to negotiate.
A senior defense official said that while the United States will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there will likely be remaining funds that can be used by the incoming Trump administration.
According to the Pentagon, about $1.2 billion in long-term funding remains through the Ukraine security assistance program to pay for weapons contracts that will not be delivered for a year or more. The government expects to release all funds by the end of the year, officials said.
If the new package is included, the United States has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
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