The Pentagon will send more than 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine for the Patriot missile defence system and the NASAMS air defence system, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine before taking office. Although the president-elect has not announced a plan to do so, Biden administration officials fear that the new administration will reduce arms supplies to Ukraine.
The Biden administration hopes to give Ukraine a stronger negotiating position and strengthen its defences. According to a Pentagon spokesperson, before the election, the administration aimed to deliver the remaining aid to Ukraine by April. This timetable has taken on new urgency after the election.
According to a senior U.S. official, in response to increased Russian drone and missile attacks, the Pentagon is sending more than 500 interceptor missiles to Ukraine for the Patriot missile defence system and the Nasams advanced surface-to-air missile system. These deliveries should meet Ukraine's air defence needs by the end of this year.
Weapons deliveries to Ukraine usually take weeks or even months to complete, and as a US official told the publication, the planned increase in arms deliveries, particularly of air defence equipment, is "very concerning".
According to the official, the US is also considering other options to help Ukraine, such as buying weapons from other countries.