WASHINGTON — The United States is expected to announce a massive military assistance package to Ukraine worth $1.25 billion, according to US officials. The package includes a significant amount of munitions, including National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, HAWK air defense systems, Stinger missiles, and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds. The announcement is expected to be made on Monday.
The aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it has intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Ukrainian forces are also still battling Russian troops in the Kursk region, where thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to help reclaim territory.
The package is part of a larger effort to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20. Some $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks were approved by Congress for Ukraine, but officials have acknowledged that it may not be possible to send all of the remaining aid before the transition of power.
The latest assistance package will reduce the remaining amount of funds available for Ukraine to around $4.35 billion. The aid is being provided through the presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine.
The move is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s hand, should President Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate with Russia. While the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, officials say that some funds may be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend.