Biden administration is preparing an $725 million weapons package for Ukraine to bolster its defense against Russia, US officials confirmed on Wednesday. The package, set to be finalized before President Biden leaves office in January, aims to provide a variety of anti-tank weapons to aid Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian advancements.
The aid will include a mix of land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), alongside a controversial inclusion of cluster munitions, which are typically used in Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) fired from HIMARS launchers. The formal notification of the package could be made to Congress by Monday, with the final contents and size subject to change.
This move represents a significant increase compared to Biden’s recent use of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a mechanism that allows the US to quickly provide weapons from its stockpiles. While recent PDA packages have ranged between $125 million to $250 million, the $725 million package marks a steep escalation as Biden aims to provide additional support to Ukraine amid Russia’s growing territorial gains.
The inclusion of land mines in the package is particularly notable, given the long-standing international controversy surrounding their use due to their potential harm to civilians. Despite over 160 countries banning landmines under a global treaty, Ukraine has requested them since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as Russian forces have used them on the front lines. The landmines being supplied to Ukraine are “non-persistent,” meaning they will become non-lethal after a short period, reducing the risk to civilians compared to older landmine designs.
Ukraine is currently facing significant setbacks, with Russian forces making rapid territorial gains, capturing an area half the size of London in just the past month. The new weapons package is expected to bolster Ukraine’s efforts to regain lost ground and defend its territory.
