Pentagon greenlights $275 million weapons package for Ukraine

The US will send at least $275 million in new weapons to Ukraine, US officials announced on November 19.

The decision comes as the Biden administration races to assist Kyiv in its fight against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

This new weapons package arrives amid growing concerns about an escalation in the conflict. Both sides are striving to gain any advantage they can, with many fearing that Trump could demand a swift end to the war, as he has previously vowed.

In rapid succession, President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to fire longer-range missiles deeper into Russian territory. Shortly after, Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

US officials argue that Russia’s change in nuclear doctrine was expected. However, Moscow has warned that Ukraine’s new use of the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) inside Russia could provoke a strong military response.

A US official confirmed that Ukraine launched approximately eight ATACMS missiles into Russia on November 19, with only two of them intercepted. These missiles struck an ammunition depot in Karachev, in Russia's Bryansk region, although the full damage is still being assessed.

The new weapons package for Ukraine includes additional air defence systems, such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin anti-armour munitions, and other equipment and spare parts. These will be delivered through presidential drawdown authority, allowing the Pentagon to quickly release supplies from its existing stockpiles.

With Trump’s impending arrival in the White House, the Biden administration is scrambling to ensure all congressionally approved funding for Ukraine is delivered promptly. This includes rushing $7.1 billion in weapons from the Pentagon's stockpiles to Kyiv before Trump is sworn in. Of this, $4.3 billion comes from a foreign aid bill passed earlier this year, while $2.8 billion remains due to savings from recalculated values of previously sent systems.

By Tamilla Hasanova