The United States announced nearly $6 billion in military and budget aid to Ukraine on Monday, as Washington works to provide assistance before Donald Trump takes office next month.
The impending return of Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Ukrainian aid, calls into question whether American support will remain at levels similar to those seen under outgoing President Joe Biden.
With Trump’s inauguration just three weeks away, there was only a limited time frame in which billions of dollars in previously authorized assistance could be disbursed.
“Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression,” Biden told reporters.
The package includes a $1.25 billion military “drawdown,” which allows the Pentagon to take weapons from US stocks and quickly deploy them to the battlefield.
An additional $1.22 billion will be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which purchases military equipment from the defense industry or partners.
According to the US State Department, the latest drawdown includes drones, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) ammunition, optically guided missiles, anti-tank weapons systems, air-to-ground munitions, and spare parts.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department announced that Ukraine will receive $3.4 billion in direct budgetary support.
Biden stated that his administration has now allocated all of the Ukraine aid funds appropriated by Congress in the spring of this year following lengthy negotiations.
The president stated that he has directed his administration to continue sending Ukraine as much military aid as possible, including older US equipment, and rush it to the battlefield as Ukraine loses territory to Russian troops who invaded in February 2022.
“Together with the security assistance America is providing Ukraine and Treasury’s actions to further tighten sanctions on Russia’s war machine, we will continue to do everything in our power to position Ukraine to achieve a just peace,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement.
– ‘Peace in 2025’? –
As Ukraine prepares for winter, the Pentagon is sending artillery rounds, rockets, and armored vehicles, according to Biden.
“The United States and more than 50 nations stand together to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the aid arrived at a critical time as Russia escalates its attacks, “even resorting to involving North Korean soldiers and continuing to receive weapons from North Korea and Iran.”
The Ukrainian leader also urged Kyiv’s Western backers to continue strengthening his country’s defenses in order to bring the conflict to an end next year.
“We must continue moving toward peace through strength to achieve our common goal of peace in 2025 — a goal shared by Ukraine and all its partners,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
The latest US assistance to Ukraine comes after the announcement of a nearly $1 billion tranche of drones, ammunition, and equipment earlier this month.
The outgoing Biden administration is working to provide as much aid to Ukraine as possible before Trump takes office on January 20.
Trump has frequently expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and claimed that he alone can end the war in a day, without specifying how.
This has raised concerns that the US will impose war-ending conditions dictated by Russia.
