The United States is ready to announce a $2.5 billion military package for Ukraine that will include Stryker vehicles, but no tanks, a source told The Washington Post.
Friday’s expected announcement will include artillery, ammunition and Stryker vehicles, which are armored combat vehicles, a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity told the Post.
According to three US officials and another person familiar with the discussions, the Biden administration will not include Abrams tanks in the package, something Kyiv has asked the US for.
The Abrams tank is a 60-ton main battle tank.
The package comes two weeks after it was announced that 50 vehicles are being sent to Ukraine in a separate $3 billion arms package.
This package will not include the long-range Army Tactical Missile System that could reach behind Russian lines in Crimea or the Donbas, according to two people who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity.
The White House has not yet signed off on the package, and it could change, the sources told Politico. The announcement is expected to come Friday at the regular Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Mark Milley will meet with their counterparts to discuss new Ukraine aid, Politico reported.