On Monday, December 2, the United States announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $725 million. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in an official statement.
The assistance will be provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the President to transfer equipment directly from Department of Defense stockpiles.
The package includes:
- Stinger missiles,
- Counter-drone systems,
- Ammunition for HIMARS systems,
- 155mm and 105mm artillery shells,
- Drones,
- Anti-personnel mines,
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank weapons,
- TOW anti-tank missiles,
- Small arms and ammunition,
- Demolition equipment and explosives,
- Equipment to protect critical national infrastructure.
This package represents a significant increase in the volume of arms supplied under President Biden’s PDA authority. Previous PDA announcements were typically valued between $125 million and $250 million.
It is estimated that Biden has $4-5 billion in PDA funds already approved by Congress, which he intends to utilize before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20.
However, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration may not have enough time to disburse the entirety of the funds approved by Congress before its term ends in January 2025. Any unused authority will transfer to Trump’s administration.
The Pentagon has also acknowledged reaching the limits of how much weaponry it can send to Ukraine each month without compromising U.S. military readiness. Additionally, logistical challenges have arisen in delivering the aid.
