Washington said to be readying $973m weapons aid package for Kyiv

WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden's administration is preparing a US$725 million (S$973 million) weapons package for Ukraine, two US officials said on Nov 27, as the President seeks to bolster the government in Kyiv before leaving office in January.

According to an official familiar with the plan, the Biden administration plans to provide a variety of anti-tank weapons from US stocks to blunt Russia's advancing troops, including land mines, drones, Stinger missiles and ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).

The package is also expected to include cluster munitions, which are typically found in Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets fired by Himars launchers, according to the notification seen by Reuters.

The formal notification to Congress of the weapons package could come as soon as Dec 2, one official said.

The contents and size of the package could change in the coming days ahead of Mr Biden's expected signature.