The Biden administration is reportedly considering providing Ukraine with the weapons necessary to target the Crimean Peninsula, an area that has proven instrumental for Russia's operations during the ongoing special military operation.
The administration believes Kiev's position in future negotiations will be improved if the Ukrainian military can threaten Russia's control of Crimea, though such a move may increase the risk of escalating the conflict, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Administration officials are reportedly discussing with their Ukrainian counterparts the use of US-supplied weapons, including High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Bradley fighting vehicles, to cover targets like the main land bridge that connects Crimea with the rest of Russia.
The Biden administration has so far been reluctant to provide Ukraine with the long-range missiles that Kiev would need to attack Crimea out of fear that such a move could provoke Russia and widen the conflict, according to the report.
The Times report comes amid earlier developments indicating that the Biden administration would reportedly announce a military aid package on Friday that will include Stryker vehicles in addition to various artillery and ammunitions. A deployment of Strykers would mark the first time the US Department of Defense has provided Ukraine with the weaponry.
Although the earlier report stated the aid package would not include the highly sought-after Abrams tanks, a separate article by the Washington Post detailed the estimated $2.5 billion aid would include multiple Bradley armored vehicles.
Earlier Wednesday, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby relayed to reporters that the US would be announcing another batch of Ukraine aid by weeks' end; however, the official did not specify what the package would include.
"I suspect that you will continue to hear coming from the United States additional packages of security assistance, additional weapons and capabilities for Ukraine — perhaps as soon as the end of this week," Kirby told US media.
To date, the US has cleared various multibillion-dollar aid packages for Ukraine, with the largest having been announced in early January. More recently, several nations have joined the US and announced their own military packets for Ukraine much to the chagrin of Russia, which has condemned the move.
US to Reportedly Announce New Weapons Package for Ukraine on Friday
The US government will reportedly announce on Friday a new military assistance package for Ukraine that will include Stryker vehicles but not M1A2 Abrams tanks.
Citing three US officials and another person familiar with the matter, Politico reported that the new package will likely include Stryker armored combat vehicles, additional artillery and ammunition.
In addition, the report said the United States will provide Ukrainian forces with ground-launched Small Diameter Bombs, which have a range of about 100 miles and can be launched from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
However, the US Abrams tanks, which Kiev has long lobbied for, will not be included in this new tranche, the report said.
The Biden administration does not plan at present to provide Ukraine with Abrams tanks, mostly due to logistical and maintenance challenges, the report added.
The long-range Army Tactical Missile System, another item Kiev has requested that has the capability of reaching Moscow, will also not be included in the new US security aid package, according to the report.
The Politico report comes on the heels of comments made by the White House hinting a new aid package would be detailed by the end of the week. John Kirby, who serves as the coordinator for strategic communications under the US National Security Council, did not offer additional details at the time.
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