The United States is preparing to unveil a significant military aid package exceeding $8 billion for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington on Thursday. The Biden administration is set to announce two major aid components, totaling $8 billion, as part of its ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. U.S. officials confirmed the aid, which is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities, will include resources drawn from U.S. weapon stocks and new purchases through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
The first segment of the aid package, valued at $5.6 billion, will come from a drawdown of U.S. weapons inventories. The announcement is expected to come just before the expiration of U.S. military aid authority on September 30, the end of the fiscal year. This drawdown will see a range of military assets transferred to Ukraine, although the specific contents of the package remain under discussion. A second package, amounting to $2.4 billion, will be delivered through USAI, which allows the U.S. government to purchase weapons directly from defense manufacturers for Ukraine. This aid will focus on anti-drone systems, munitions, and support for Ukraine’s production of munitions.
In addition, a separate announcement later on Wednesday is expected to reveal $375 million worth of assistance under the Presidential Drawdown Authority. This package will include precision-guided Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) capable of striking targets with high accuracy from up to 81 miles (130 km). The package will also provide patrol boats, ammunition for High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and artillery rounds for 155mm and 105mm systems. The inclusion of the JSOW was not anticipated to be disclosed publicly, according to U.S. officials.
The U.S. government has been accelerating its military support for Ukraine as Congress works to approve further aid before fiscal deadlines. To date, nearly $175 billion has been allocated for Ukraine and allied nations since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. As Kyiv’s military pushes back against Russian forces, additional U.S. military assistance is expected to be crucial in the coming months. Lawmakers are expected to deliberate further support packages to sustain Ukraine’s war efforts in the near future.
