US Readies $8 Billion Arms Aid Package for Zelenskiy Visit, Sources Claim – Reuters

By Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON – The United States is set to unveil over $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington on Thursday, as confirmed by two U.S. officials.

The Biden administration has been in urgent discussions with Congress to allocate $5.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before the fiscal year ends on September 30, when existing authorization will expire.

On Thursday, the White House plans to inform Congress of a $5.6 billion drawdown from U.S. weapon stockpiles, although details of the package are still being finalized, officials indicated.

Earlier this month, reports emerged that the administration was considering a contingency plan to announce shipments for Ukraine, aiming for a longer delivery timeframe to facilitate a steady flow of resources without breaching the September deadline.

Additionally, a second announcement on Thursday will feature $2.4 billion in aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This program allows the U.S. to procure weapons for Ukraine from manufacturers rather than depleting existing U.S. stocks.

This assistance will encompass munitions, drone combat weapons, and materials to bolster munitions production within Ukraine, according to one official.

Moreover, on Wednesday, the U.S. revealed a package worth $375 million under the Presidential Drawdown Authority for Ukraine. This shipment will include the initial delivery of a precision-guided glide bomb, known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, capable of hitting targets accurately at a range of up to 81 miles (130 km). This information had not been included in the previous announcement.

The package, reported by Reuters last week, will also deliver patrol boats, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS), and various types of artillery ammunition, along with spare parts and other armaments.

The Joint Standoff Weapon, which is designed to be deployed from fighter jets, provides high-accuracy strikes. It is important to note that Ukraine has generally been restricted from utilizing U.S.-supplied arms for strikes within Russia.

The Presidential Drawdown Authority permits the president to utilize existing weapon stocks to assist allies in urgent situations. In August, during a time of significant military challenges for Ukraine, Washington announced two separate aid packages, each amounting to $125 million.

Congress has approved nearly $175 billion in aid and military support for Ukraine and its allies since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion over the past 2.5 years. Many lawmakers anticipate that further financial support for the Ukrainian government will be necessary in the coming months.

U.S. defense contractors poised to benefit from the increased shipments to Ukraine include major firms like RTX, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.