The Biden administration will announce in the coming days its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package, using up the remaining funds set aside to buy new weapons for Ukraine.
That’s according to two sources familiar with the matter, Ukrinform reports, citing Reuters.
The package includes air defense interceptors and artillery munitions, according to a third source, but the exact contents are expected when the package is announced in the coming days. The package will be worth about $1.2 billion, said the sources.
Under USAI, military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners, rather than drawn from American stocks, meaning it can take months or years to arrive on the battlefield.
The USAI package could be among the last steps the United States takes to provide direct military support to Ukraine as Kyiv braces for the return of President-elect Donald Trump, who has publicly questioned military aid and vowed to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office on January 20.
Since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, the United States has committed $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, including approximately $61.4 billion in security assistance.
About half of that security assistance has come through the USAI program, and the rest has gone toward pulling from existing military stocks via presidential drawdown authority.
There is $5.6 billion remaining of presidential drawdown authority.
Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Source: U.S. to announce $1.2B aid package for Ukraine in coming days – Reuters
