The US will send around $125 million (£95 million) in new military aid to Ukraine amid Kyiv’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
The Biden administration’s package will include air defence missiles, Himars artillery, munitions and Javelins, as well as anti-drone equipment, unnamed officials told AP.
An announcement is likely to come on Friday, the day before Ukraine’s Independence Day, as the US warns of a possible uptick in Russian attacks to coincide with the celebration.
The aid, which will be taken from Pentagon stockpiles for faster delivery, is also expected to include anti-armour missiles, counter-electronic warfare systems, vehicles and 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition.
It comes as Ukraine continues its surprise Kursk operation, having seized control of 93 settlements and reached up to 22 miles into Russia.
The US was not informed about plans to enter Kursk before the incursion, with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, saying it was not disclosed due to Western allies’ fears of Russian “red lines”.
While the US still has some questions over the Kursk offensive, Sabrina Singh, the deputy Pentagon press secretary, told reporters at a press conference earlier this week that the US has no plans to interrupt security assistance to Ukraine.
After more than two weeks since the start of the invasion, Ukraine’s advances have slowed with only marginal gains around the territory they already control.
Meanwhile, Russian troops are advancing in the east towards the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a critical stronghold and logistics hub. They have seized at least three settlements in recent days.
Mr Zelensky said this week Ukraine’s forces were working on boosting the number of troops and weapons in the east.
Speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Kamala Harris, the vice president of the US, insisted on Thursday that she will firmly stand with Ukraine if she wins the November election.
“As president, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our Nato allies,” she said.
Recounting how she met with Mr Zelensky personally five days before Russia’s 2022 invasion to warn him, Ms Harris said she helped mobilise a global response to the war of over 50 countries.
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