WASHINGTON — On Monday, President Joe Biden revealed plans for the United States to send an additional $2.5 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. This strategic decision is part of his administration’s effort to channel every possible resource to support Kyiv in its ongoing struggle against Russia, particularly before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
The latest military aid package comprises $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the U.S. military to swiftly deploy existing stockpiles of weapons, ensuring they reach the front lines without delay. Additionally, the package allocates $1.22 billion for long-term weapon contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
Biden highlighted that all available USAI funds have been fully allocated and reaffirmed the commitment to utilize the remaining drawdown resources before the end of his presidency.
“I have directed my administration to accelerate the delivery of support to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden declared. “The United States will persistently strive to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this conflict during the remainder of my term in office.”
In addition to military aid, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the U.S. will provide $3.4 billion in economic support to Ukraine. This funding aims to help sustain vital government services amid the ongoing war, including salaries for government officials, teachers, healthcare providers, and emergency responders.
This military assistance package comes at a time when Russia has ramped up its assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Nevertheless, Ukraine has reported successfully intercepting a significant number of missiles and drones. Intense fighting persists in the Kursk region near the Russian border, where Moscow has deployed thousands of North Korean troops in an effort to regain lost territory.
The Biden administration is keen to expedite the delivery of arms to Ukraine, hoping to enhance its negotiating position ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Trump has hinted at the possibility of a negotiated resolution between Ukraine and Russia and has previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Many officials in the U.S. and Europe are concerned that Trump’s approach to a settlement could result in an unfavorable agreement for Ukraine. There are also worries about whether he will fully support Ukraine with the military funding that Congress has previously authorized.
The latest military aid package includes various items from existing U.S. stockpiles, such as counter-drone munitions, air defense systems, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, air-to-ground munitions, anti-armor weapons, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and assorted spare parts.
With this announcement, the total U.S. security assistance provided to Ukraine has now surpassed $65 billion since the onset of Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
