US officials told The Associated Press that the package is expected to be announced on Wednesday, the day the war reaches its six-month end and Ukraine celebrates its independence day. The money will fund contracts for up to three types of drones and other weapons, ammunition and equipment that may not see the front line for a year or two, they said. The total aid package — provided under the Ukraine Security Initiative and the largest to date — could change somewhat overnight, but not very likely. Officials said it will include money for the small, hand-held Puma drones, the more durable Scan Eagle surveillance drones, which are launched by catapult, and, for the first time, the British Vampire drone system, which can be launched. ships. Several officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid before its public release. Unlike most previous packages, the new funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its mid- to long-term defense posture, according to officials familiar with the matter. The previous missions, most of which were carried out under the Presidential Withdrawal Authority, focused on Ukraine’s most immediate needs for weapons and ammunition and related materials that the Pentagon already has in stock and can be shipped on short notice. In addition to providing long-term aid that Ukraine can use for possible future defense needs, the new package is intended to reassure Ukrainian officials that the United States intends to continue its support regardless of the day-to-day conflict, the officials said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signaled the broader focus on Tuesday as he reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the conflict-torn country. “Winter is coming, and it’s going to be tough, and what we’re seeing now is a tough war of attrition. This is a battle of wills and a battle of logistics. Therefore, we must maintain our support for Ukraine in the long term so that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent nation,” Stoltenberg said, speaking at a virtual conference on Crimea hosted by Ukraine. Six months after the Russian invasion, the war has slowed down as both sides trade skirmishes and make small advances in the east and south. Both sides have seen thousands of soldiers killed and wounded, as Russian bombing of cities has killed countless innocent civilians. There are fears that Russia will step up attacks on civilian infrastructure and government facilities in Ukraine in the coming days due to the independence holiday and the six-month anniversary of the invasion. Late Monday, the US Embassy in Ukraine and the State Department issued a new security alert for Ukraine that reiterated the call for Americans in the country to leave because of the danger. “Given Russia’s track record in Ukraine, we are concerned about the continued threat posed by Russian strikes to civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said. Other NATO allies are also marking the independence day with new aid announcements. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country was providing more than 500 million euros (almost $500 million) in aid, including powerful anti-aircraft systems. The aid will also include missile launchers, ammunition, anti-drone equipment, a dozen armored recovery vehicles and three additional IRIS-T long-range air defense systems, German news agency dpa reported. The funding still needs to be approved by parliament, and some of it won’t be delivered until next year. And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $3.85 million for two projects in Ukraine through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program. It includes about $2.9 million in funding for the continued development of Ukraine’s national police force and other emergency services, and about $950,000 to help advise Ukraine’s defense ministry. To date, the US has provided approximately $10.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden administration, including 19 weapons packages taken directly from Defense Department stockpiles since August 2021. US defense leaders are also considering plans to expand training for Ukrainian troops outside their country and for soldiers in the eastern and southern reaches of Europe who feel most threatened by Russian aggression.
Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
