In conjunction with the upcoming visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to make a significant announcement of a $325 million military aid package for Ukraine, as confirmed by an anonymous U.S. official on Wednesday.
The aid package is expected to feature the delivery of a second tranche of cluster munitions, fired by a 155-millimetre Howitzer cannon. Although other new weapons for Ukraine are anticipated to be disclosed during President Biden’s meeting with President Zelenskiy, it has been clarified that ATACMS missiles, which were previously under discussion, will not be included in this announcement.
Notably, Ukraine received an initial tranche of M864 155-millimeter artillery rounds in July 2023. These unguided artillery shells are designed for NATO standard 155 cannons, boasting a maximum range of 18 miles (29 km) and carrying up to 72 dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM) M42 and M46 bomblets.
The decision to send 155-millimeter artillery rounds with cluster munitions is aimed at alleviating the demand for standard “unitary” 155-millimeter shells, which will also be part of this aid shipment.
Furthermore, the U.S. plans to provide additional Avenger short-range air defense systems equipped with Stinger missiles, manufactured by RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon).
Included within the comprehensive aid package for Ukraine are TOW and AT4 anti-tank weapons, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and Javelin anti-tank missiles produced by a joint venture between Lockheed and RTX Corp, alongside various other equipment.
It should be noted that the specifics of this aid package are still being finalized and are subject to change, as stated by the anonymous U.S. official.
This generous assistance package is made possible through the utilization of Presidential Drawdown Authority, which grants President Biden the authority to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without requiring congressional approval during times of emergency. The materials will be sourced from the excess inventory held by the United States.
President Zelenskiy is scheduled to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday morning for meetings with lawmakers, followed by White House discussions with President Biden later in the day.
Since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with over $40 billion worth of security assistance.
