New Delhi:
The administration of US President Joe Biden is preparing a $725 million arms package for Ukraine. Giving information about this on Wednesday, two American officials said that its purpose is that the outgoing President wants to strengthen the government in Kiev before leaving office in January. The Biden administration plans to provide a variety of anti-tank weapons from U.S. stocks, including land mines, drones, Stinger missiles and high mobility artillery rockets, to stop Russia’s advancing troops, according to an official familiar with the planning. Ammunition for the system (HIMARS) is included.
What did the officer say on this package
The package is also expected to include cluster munitions, which are typically found in Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets fired by a HIMARS launcher, seen by Reuters. An official said formal notification to Congress of the arms package could come as soon as Monday. There may be further changes in this package in the coming days before Biden’s signature. The move reflects a major increase in the size of the Biden administration’s recent use of the so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the US to withdraw weapons from its existing weapons stockpile to help allies in an emergency.
Ukraine is demanding landmines
Recent PDA announcements have typically ranged from $125 million to $250 million. Biden has an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion in PDAs already authorized by Congress, which he is expected to use before Republican President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. The US has not exported landmines for decades, and their use is controversial because of the potential harm to civilians. However, more than 160 countries have signed treaties banning their use. Kiev has been clamoring for them ever since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in early 2022.
Russia has a big advantage against Ukraine
The landmines being shipped to Ukraine are “non-permanent” landmines, with a power system that lasts for a short period of time, making the devices non-lethal. This means that unlike older landmines, they will not remain in the ground, meaning civilians will not be in danger from them for long. Experts and war bloggers said this week that Russian forces are currently advancing into Ukraine at their fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion. The result of which is that last month an area equal to half the size of London has been captured.
Will Trump be able to stop the war?
The US expects Ukraine to use landmines on its territory, although it has committed not to use them in areas populated by its citizens. Trump on Wednesday thanked Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who presented him with a plan to end the war in Ukraine. Appointed him as a special envoy for the struggle. Quickly ending the Ukraine war was one of Trump’s key campaign promises, though he avoided discussing how he would do so.
