The US is preparing to announce over $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine on 28 September, during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on 27 September.
The Biden administration has been in urgent talks with Congress to allocate $5.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before the fiscal year ends on 30 September 2024, when the authority expires. US officials said the White House will notify Congress of a $5.6 billion drawdown from US weapons stocks, with the details still being finalized, Reuters reported.
Additionally, a separate $2.4 billion aid package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative will be announced on the same day, allowing the US to purchase weapons for Ukraine from private companies. This package is expected to include munitions, drone-combat weapons, and support for Ukraine’s munitions production.
The US also announced a $375 million Presidential Drawdown Authority package for Ukraine, which includes the first delivery of the Joint Standoff Weapon, a precision-guided glide bomb with an 81-mile (130 km) range. Other items in the package include patrol boats, additional ammunition for HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, spare parts, and other weapons.
Pentagon announces $ 375 million military aid package for Ukraine
The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon, designed for fighter jets, is highly accurate, though Ukraine has been largely restricted from using US-supplied weapons for strikes inside Russia.
According to Reuters, US defense contractors, including RTX, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman, stand to benefit from the increased weapons shipments to Ukraine.
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