Five U.S officials tell NBC News that the Biden administration is about to announce another substantial military aid package for Ukraine this week. Three officials said the package is expected to be similar to the $800 million one the administration announced last week.
The package is expected to include more artillery and tens of thousands more artillery rounds, which will likely be critical to the fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, according to two officials.
President Joe Biden has not signed the new package, officials said. Biden said that he would send more artillery to Ukraine, but asked Tuesday if he will send more artillery to Ukraine. The administration could also announce new sanctions against Russia, though it is not clear if those will come this week, officials said.
Matt Miller, special adviser at the White House National Security Council, said on MSNBC Tuesday that we are preparing for the next package of security assistance to get into Ukraine. They are going through these stocks quickly, because it is true. The Biden administration sent an $800 million package to Ukraine last week that included 40,000 artillery rounds andmm howitzers.
A U.S. official said that 40,000 would only last a little over a week, with the Ukrainian military using thousands per day. U.S. officials are working on the phone to convince allies to send more artillery and ammunition to Ukraine so that it doesn't run out when the offensive ramps up.
The National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.