The next security aid package prepared by the Biden administration for Ukraine is expected to reach $1 billion. ReutersThree informative sources on the subject.
The package is expected to be announced early Monday and will top $8.8 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began on February 24.
Officials cited by Reuters said President Joe Biden has yet to sign off on the next military aid package. They cautioned that this aid may change in value and content before it is approved.
But if signed in its current form, it would cost $1 billion and include HIMARS, NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems, and 50 M113 armored personnel carriers.
The new aid package follows the Pentagon’s recent decision to allow Ukrainians to receive medical treatment at a US military hospital near Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Last Monday, the Pentagon announced a separate package of $550 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, including additional weapons for HIMARS.
The White House declined to comment on the new information.
The new aid will be funded through the PDA mechanism, where the president can authorize the transfer of goods and services from the US stockpile without congressional approval in an emergency.
HIMARS plays a key role in the artillery battle between Ukraine and Russia, which has been described as a “grind” with very little movement on the front line in the Donbass.
So far, the US has deployed 16 HIMARS to Ukraine and on July 1 has promised to deploy two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).
However, it was not clear whether the NASAMS launchers, made by US firm Raytheon Technologies Corp and Norway’s Kongsberg, were already in Ukraine, whether the munitions were for launchers supplied by another country, or whether they were pre-deployed.
The United States previously pledged to send 200 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
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