By Mike Stone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration will announce its last safety assist bundle to Ukraine within the coming days, utilizing remaining funds put aside to purchase new weapons for Ukraine, in response to two sources acquainted with the matter.
The bundle contains air protection interceptors and artillery munitions, in response to a 3rd supply, however the actual contents are anticipated when the bundle is introduced within the coming days. The dimensions of the bundle will likely be round $1.2 billion, the sources stated.
Below USAI, army tools is bought from the protection business or companions, slightly than from U.S. stockpiles, that means it may take months and even years to reach on the battlefield.
The USAI program might be one of many final steps taken by america to offer direct army assist to Ukraine as kyiv prepares for the return of President-elect Donald Trump, who has publicly questioned the army assist and pledged to finish the conflict in Ukraine inside 24 hours. taking workplace on January 20.
Since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022, america has dedicated $175 billion in assist to Ukraine, together with about $61.4 billion in safety help.
About half of this safety help got here from the USAI program, and the rest was dedicated to the withdrawal of present army stockpiles by means of the Presidential Withdrawal Authorization.
There stays $5.6 billion in presidential withdrawal authorization.
The State Division and Pentagon declined to touch upon the announcement, saying they’d not focus on safety help applications till they’re formally revealed.
The USAI program has been a boon to U.S. protection contractors, who’ve been in a position to ebook orders for newly manufactured weapons and set up new income streams.
One instance is the VAMPIRE system from L3Harris Applied sciences (NYSE:). The Rocket Gear modular, palletized, vehicle-independent ISR counter-drone system acquired its first USAI-funded order in August 2022.
L3Harris delivered its first 4 items inside 12 months. The corporate noticed elevated curiosity within the system and subsequently positioned a number of orders by means of the USAI program.
Because the Biden administration prepares to unveil particulars of the ultimate USAI bundle, questions stay about how and whether or not america will proceed to assist its ally within the absence of devoted USAI funding.
Throughout his marketing campaign, Trump repeatedly questioned the extent of U.S. involvement within the battle, suggesting that European allies ought to bear extra of the monetary burden. A few of his fellow Republicans – who will management each the Home of Representatives and the Senate beginning subsequent month – have additionally cooled their assist coverage for kyiv.
This place – regardless of sturdy previous assist within the US Congress for sustained or expanded assist for Ukraine – has raised considerations amongst Ukraine supporters in Washington about the way forward for US assist below the Trump administration.
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