The United States is set to announce a $725 million arms package for Ukraine. The latest tranche of military aid under the 71st Presidential Drawdown Authority, according to two officials familiar with the plan, will be the largest since April and includes counter-drone systems authorized by President Joe Biden.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder noted that the package would include “significant additional security assistance,” specifically pointing to air defense and munitions, though he did not confirm the dollar amount.

These measures aim to provide enhanced protection for Ukrainian critical infrastructure and frontline troops from aerial threats. The inclusion of these technologies comes as the Biden administration prepares to hand over control to Donald Trump, who has been vocal in his criticisms over the scale of US aid to Ukraine.

Currently, the Pentagon faces logistical challenges in balancing support for Ukraine with maintaining US military readiness. Officials have expressed concerns about depleting US inventories, with $6.8 billion in authorized drawdowns remaining untapped. Despite these challenges, the Biden administration is prioritizing aid to Ukraine.

“We understand the urgent situation in Ukraine and the president’s direction and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that Ukraine is getting the aid that it needs,” Ryder said.

The White House has also requested an additional $24 billion from Congress for Ukraine, with $16 billion allocated to replenishing US weapons stocks and $8 billion for long-term weapons contracts.

Post Image – Biden and Zelenskyy meet in 2023 (Post Image Credit: US Embassy in Ukraine)