U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing a new weapons package for Ukraine worth $725 million.
The package includes landmines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The U.S. government will also provide cluster munitions to Ukraine. This decision comes as the Biden administration has pledged to send as much aid as possible before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
The package is valued at $725 million, which is a significant increase from recent military aid packages. The money will be used to pull weapons from U.S. stocks using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). Congress has already allocated $4-5 billion for remaining PDA funds for Ukraine.
Biden wants to deliver the full amount of allocated funds to Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, despite logistical challenges. However, The Wall Street Journal reported that it is unlikely he will be able to do so by the end of his term.
The White House has also asked Congress to approve additional aid funding for Ukraine. The administration is requesting $24 billion in military assistance. This move comes as Trump has expressed skepticism about ongoing U.S. military support for Ukraine, and some reports suggest that he might seek to get the U.S. “out” of the war.
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