According to two U.S. officials, the Biden administration is reportedly finalising a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine. This move comes as the outgoing president aims to strengthen the Ukrainian government before resigning in January.
As revealed by an official familiar with the plan, the Biden administration is set to supply a range of anti-tank weapons from U.S. reserves to counter the advancing Russian forces. This arsenal will include land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) ammunition.
According to a notification reviewed by Reuters, the package is anticipated to contain cluster munitions, commonly associated with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets deployed by HIMARS launchers.
An official indicated that Congress could receive the formal notification regarding the weapons package as early as Monday.
The package’s contents and size may change in the days leading up to President Biden’s anticipated signature.
The recent decision signifies a significant increase in scale compared to President Biden’s previous application of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA). This mechanism enables the U.S. to utilise existing weapons inventories to assist allies during emergencies.
Recent announcements regarding public displays of affection have generally ranged from $125 million to $250 million. President Biden is poised to utilise an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion in previously authorised Pandemic Disaster Assistance (PDA) funds before the inauguration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
For decades, the United States has refrained from exporting landmines, a subject that remains contentious due to the risks they pose to civilian populations. Even though over 160 nations have ratified a treaty prohibiting their deployment, Kyiv has been requesting these weapons since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, during which Russian forces have reportedly utilised them on the front lines.
The landmines designated for Ukraine are classified as “non-persistent,” featuring a power system that operates for a limited duration, rendering the devices non-lethal. This indicates that, in contrast to traditional landmines, these newer versions would not persist in the soil, posing a continuous risk to civilians.
Russian forces are reportedly advancing in Ukraine at an unprecedented pace, reminiscent of the initial stages of the 2022 invasion. Over the past month, they have captured territory equivalent to half the size of London, according to analysts and war bloggers who provided insights this week.
The United States anticipates that Ukraine will deploy the mines within its borders while emphasising its commitment to refrain from utilising them in regions inhabited by civilians.
On Wednesday, Trump appointed Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general, as special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, following Kellogg’s presentation of a plan to resolve the war. One of the central promises of Trump’s campaign has been to end the Ukraine war swiftly, yet he has largely refrained from outlining the specific strategies he would employ to achieve this goal.
