"The expanded permissions and new weapons come too late to give Ukraine an advantage on the battlefield or more leverage at the negotiating table."

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is preparing a $725 million weapons package for Ukraine, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday, as the outgoing president seeks to bolster the government in Kyiv before leaving office in January.

President Biden is reportedly making a last-minute plea to Congress for $24 billion in aid for war-torn Ukraine to bolster its military support and replenish US stocks that had dwindled under past

As Kyiv braces for the potential of difficult talks with Russia, Biden hopes providing land mines and allowing longer-range attacks will strengthen its hand.

American officials are acknowledging that the U.S. won’t be able to spend all of the money authorized to transfer arms to Kyiv by Jan. 20.