Ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Biden administration is preparing a $725 million arms aid package for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s defense before Biden leaves office in January, according to U.S. officials. The aid will include a range of anti-tank weapons, such as land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The package is also expected to feature cluster munitions, typically used in Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets fired by HIMARS.
A formal notification to Congress could come as early as Monday, although the details of the package could change in the days leading up to Biden’s signature. This proposed aid package is notably larger than recent Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) announcements, which have been in the $125 million to $250 million range. Biden has approximately $4 billion to $5 billion in PDA remaining, which he is expected to use before Trump takes office on January 20.
Although controversial due to the potential civilian harm, the aid package would include non-persistent landmines that are designed to be non-lethal. Unlike older landmines, these would not remain in the ground indefinitely. Ukraine has been requesting landmines since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, while Russian forces have been using them on the front lines. The U.S. expects Ukraine to use these mines only within its own territory, avoiding civilian areas.
Meanwhile, Russia has made significant territorial gains in Ukraine, advancing at its fastest rate since the early stages of the invasion. In response, Trump has appointed retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, pledging to end the war quickly, although he has not outlined how he would achieve this.
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