According to Politico, the Pentagon is making preparations to send a substantial aid package to Ukraine once President Joe Biden signs the long-awaited Ukraine aid bill into law. The specific contents of the package have not been finalized by the Department of Defense (DOD) planners, but it is likely to include crucial items such as armored Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, artillery, and air defenses that Ukraine urgently requires. These details were shared by two anonymous U.S. officials who spoke to Politico. The aid package is expected to be considerably larger than the usual $300 million package provided by the Pentagon, as stated by one of the officials. Another U.S. official, who is knowledgeable about the discussions, also confirmed this information.
One of the officials informed Politico that the Pentagon aims to deliver a substantial package to address Ukraine’s battlefield needs. However, U.S. officials are concerned about Ukraine’s diminishing prospects of achieving a military victory against Russia. If Ukraine’s supporters do not provide the much-needed equipment, Politico reports that Kyiv could face defeat by the end of the year.
Politico also mentioned that the aid package may include older Humvees and M113 armored personnel carriers, as per the Pentagon’s planners. The House has already passed a $61 billion budget for the Pentagon to allocate towards security assistance for Ukraine. This upcoming package will not only replenish U.S. stockpiles but also procure new equipment to be delivered to Kyiv. According to CNN, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that the Senate will vote on the foreign aid package on Tuesday, and it is expected to pass without difficulty.
Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he will “quickly provide significant new security assistance packages to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield and air defense needs as soon as the Senate passes the national security supplemental and he signs it into law” on a call Monday.
According to Politico, a senior Pentagon official informed legislators that the package would be prepared “within a week or two” following the president’s approval of the aid funding.
The US is preparing a larger than normal aid package for Ukraine, to be launched soon after new funding is approved, according to reporting from Politico.
The package may include Bradley IFVs, Humvees, air defenses, artillery shells, and M113 armored personnel carriers. pic.twitter.com/i9dtEeZwV2
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 22, 2024
