Joe Biden To Prepare $800 Million in Another Security Aid to Ukraine Despite Growing Concern on Nuclear Plant Attack

According to three people familiar with the situation, President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to announce an extra $800 million in military aid to Ukraine as soon as Friday.

As per Reuters, President Joe Biden would sanction the help using his Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to order the transfer of surplus weaponry from US stores.

Joe Biden To Use Presidential Drawdown Authority Again

According to the individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, an announcement might be made next week, but they cautioned that the value of weapons packages can vary before they are publicized. Since Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border in February in what Russian President Vladimir Putin described as a "special military operation," the conflict has devolved into an attrition battle waged mostly in Ukraine's east and south.

Since August 2021, President Joe Biden has utilized the Presidential Drawdown Authority at least 18 times to help Ukraine reinforce its defenses against Russia's incursion, totaling more than $7.2 billion in defense equipment and services. The US is giving Ukraine with critical military support to protect itself against Russia's unwarranted and ruthless assault, which amounts to globally recognized war crimes, according to a press statement issued by the State Department last month.

Based on the State Department, the assistance does not require legislative approval and can be delivered within days or hours after Biden's approval. The large sum comes as Congress has gradually boosted the withdrawal threshold, from $100 million to $11 billion in recent years, Fox News reported.

Biden Administration's Previous Security Aid Sent to Ukraine

The Biden administration just made the largest direct supply of weaponry to Ukraine as it prepared for a possibly decisive counteroffensive in the south against Russia, delivering $1 billion in rockets, ammo, and other stuff from the Defense Department stocks to Ukraine.

The US weaponry supply was intended to boost Ukraine as it launches its counteroffensive, which analysts believe would allow Kyiv to define the rest of the conflict for the first time. Additional rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, as well as thousands of artillery rounds, mortar systems, Javelins, and other ammunition and equipment, were provided by the United States.

Military commanders and senior US officials claimed the HIMARS and artillery systems were critical in Ukraine's effort to keep Russia at bay. While the US has previously delivered Ukraine with 16 HIMARS, the package does not include any extra ones. The prior contribution raised the Biden administration's total US security assistance to Ukraine to more than $9 billion.

On June 15, the greatest single security aid package announced was for $1 billion. However, such assistance included $350 million in presidential drawdown authority and another $650 million under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which funds training, equipment, and other security needs that may be purchased from other nations or firms.

It comprised 75,000 rounds of 155mm artillery, 20 mortar systems and 20,000 rounds for them, 1,000 shoulder-mounted Javelin missiles, and other armaments, explosives, and medical supplies, in addition to the HIMARS rockets. The United States has committed around $9.8 billion in total, according to Daily Mail.