US to Send Ukraine at Least $275 Million in New Weapons: Report

The United States will send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons, according to a Tuesday report by The Associated Press (AP).

The AP cited two unnamed U.S. officials as saying the Pentagon will provide the new arms to help Kyiv in its war against Russia.

The news agency noted that President Joe Biden's administration is trying to help Ukraine as much as possible before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

News of the $275 million in weapons comes after Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, a move that's been condemned by the Kremlin.

Russia-Ukraine War

Earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine to share his country's nuclear deterrence with its allies—mirroring NATO's "attack on one member is an attack on all" doctrine.

The Kremlin document, published by the Russian Defense Ministry on Telegram, replaced earlier decrees and states that Russian nuclear deterrence will be exercised "against a potential enemy" and views nuclear weapon use as an "extreme measure."

U.S. officials said that Russia's shift in nuclear doctrine had been anticipated, but Moscow warned that Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) within Russian territory could provoke a significant response.

An American official, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity, said there are no signs that Russia is preparing to deploy a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

When asked Tuesday whether a Ukrainian strike using longer-range U.S. missiles could prompt the use of nuclear weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed it as a possibility. He referenced Russia's nuclear doctrine, which allows for such a response following a conventional attack that poses significant threats to the "sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Russia or its ally, Belarus.

According to the AP, a U.S. official reported that Ukraine launched approximately eight ATACMS missiles into Russia on Tuesday, with only two intercepted. The official said the missiles targeted an ammunition depot in Karachev, located in Russia's Bryansk region.

Weapons Package to Ukraine

The latest U.S. aid package for Ukraine reportedly includes a bolstered array of air defense systems, such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), along with 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin anti-armor missiles and a range of additional equipment and spare parts, according to U.S. officials.

The weapons will be supplied under presidential drawdown authority, enabling the Pentagon to swiftly transfer stockpiled equipment directly to Ukraine's front lines.

Trump Presidency

As Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House, the Biden administration is racing to ensure that all congressionally approved aid for Ukraine is delivered, aiming to bolster Kyiv's position ahead of the winter months.

The Biden administration faces a tight deadline to expedite $7.1 billion in weapons from Pentagon stockpiles before Trump's inauguration. This figure includes $4.3 billion allocated in a foreign aid bill passed earlier this year and $2.8 billion in savings identified through Pentagon recalculations of previously dispatched systems.

The administration is also working to finalize the disbursement of its share of a $50 billion loan to Ukraine, funded by frozen Russian assets, before Biden leaves office, the AP reported, citing two senior administration officials.

Trump has vowed to swiftly end the war in Ukraine, and many members of the Republican Party have publicly opposed giving more aid to Kyiv.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

Update 11/19/24 4:55 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with further information.