US prepares $ 375 million in military aid for Ukraine amid Russian energy grid attacks – Reuters

The package includes patrol boats, HIMARS ammunition, and artillery supplies.

Sep 21, 2024 - 14:00

US prepares $ 375 million in military aid for Ukraine amid Russian energy grid attacks – Reuters

Ukrainian soldier carrying ammunition, illustrative image. Photo via Eastnews.ua.

The United States is preparing a $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, according to two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters. This package represents a departure from the recent trend of smaller aid packages for Kyiv.

The timing of this aid is critical, as Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of the winter months, causing nation-wide blackouts and scheduled power cuts.

The package, expected to be announced next week, is set to include patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), artillery ammunition in various calibers, spare parts, and other weapons, according to Reuters.

This move comes as pro-Ukraine US congressional leaders and the Biden administration are working towards extending the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine. The current PDA, which allows the US to draw from existing weapons stocks to assist allies in emergencies, is due to expire this month.

There are efforts to include a one-year extension of about $5.5 billion worth of PDA in a Continuing Resolution, a short-term emergency spending bill necessary to avoid a government shutdown on 30 September.

This funding allows the US to quickly send weapons to Ukraine from existing stockpiles. If Congress does not act, the US could lose a critical mechanism for supplying Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

Since May, US aid packages to Ukraine using PDA have not exceeded $275 million. In August, as Ukraine faced territorial losses in the east while conducting Kursk incursion into Russia, the US sent two packages of $125 million each.

On 6 September, the US Department of Defense announced a $250 million military aid package for Ukraine. This marked the 65th such package under the Presidential Drawdown Authority since August 2021.

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