WASHINGTON: The United States is likely to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
According to AP, US officials told the news agency that the Biden administration aims to approve as much aid to Kyiv as possible before Trump takes over.
The package reportedly includes munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defence system along with others.
Euronews, a pan-European television news network reported that the US will also provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds.
22nd aid package
US officials were quoted as saying that they expect the official announcement to be made on Monday.
This latest announcement marks the administration’s 22nd aid package through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Fox News reported.
Rapid Russian advance
The new aid package comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days.
Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones.
Several Western media outlets reported that Russia has made significant advances on the frontlines in the last couple of weeks of the conflict.
Renewed push
Earlier in December, the US Congress rejected a request by the Biden administration to authorise $24 billion in additional funding.
House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the request saying “It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now”.
“We have a newly elected president, and we’re going to wait and take the new commander-in-chief’s direction on all that. So, I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now.”
It is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now.” – US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson
Trump factor
US President-elect Donald Trump has long been critical of the scale of military aid the US has provided to Ukraine.
His position on the raging conflict has raised fears that the flow of arms to Kyiv could stop when he re-enters the White House.
He has also talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, saying on the presidential campaign trail that he could end the almost three-year war “in one day”.
