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In
response to a request from the Biden administration, the funding
would include $4.5 billion to provide defense capabilities and
equipment for Ukraine, as well as $2.7 billion to continue
military, intelligence and other defense support, said the
sources, who asked not to be identified ahead of the
announcement.
It also will include $4.5 billion to continue to provide direct
budget support to the Kyiv government through the next quarter.
That way President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's administration can pay
salaries to essential staff, support Ukrainians fleeing conflict
and cover other critical expenses to help civilians, a
government official said.
U.S. President Joe Biden asked Congress earlier this month to
provide $11.7 billion in new emergency military and economic aid
for Ukraine in the stopgap spending bill. There is widespread
support in Congress from both Biden's fellow Democrats - who
narrowly control both the House of Representatives and Senate -
and Republicans for helping Ukraine to defend itself following
Russia's invasion.
Congress is facing a midnight Friday deadline to pass the
spending bill, which also would temporarily fund a wide range of
U.S. government programs.
In addition to the previously listed funding, the package -
which could be announced as soon as later on Monday - includes
$2 billion for the U.S. energy industry, to address the impact
of the war and reduce future energy costs.
One of the sources familiar with the package said the funding
request - known as a continuing resolution - would also include
resettlement funding for Afghan refugees.
In a separate, but related authorization request, a U.S.
official said the Biden administration also planned to ask
Congress for an additional $3.6 billion in Presidential Drawdown
Authority, which allows the president to authorize the transfer
of excess weapons from U.S. stocks.
Washington and its allies have sent billions of dollars in
security and economic assistance to Ukraine during the
seven-month-long war.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Steve Holland, Mike Stone and
Patricia Zengerle; editing by Grant McCool and David Gregorio)
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