President Joe Biden has announced that the United States will provide an additional $2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, aimed at bolstering its defenses against Russia. This new assistance package is part of an effort to maximize the use of available funds before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. The package consists of $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the U.S. to quickly send weapons from existing stockpiles, and $1.22 billion allocated for longer-term weapons contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
Biden’s administration has already exhausted all USAI funds and intends to use the remaining drawdown money as quickly as possible. The President has instructed his team to continue accelerating assistance to Ukraine during the remaining time of his presidency, aiming to provide the country with the best possible position in the ongoing war against Russia.
U.S. Allocates $2.5 Billion in Military Aid to Ukraine Ahead of Trump’s Presidency
The new aid comes as Russia intensifies its offensive, particularly targeting Ukraine’s power infrastructure. Ukrainian forces have managed to intercept many of the incoming Russian missiles and drones, but the conflict continues to rage, especially around the Russian border region of Kursk. There, Russia has deployed thousands of North Korean troops to assist in the battle to reclaim territory previously taken by Ukraine.
The urgency of this military aid is influenced by the upcoming change in U.S. leadership. Trump has expressed a desire for a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. This has raised concerns among U.S. and European leaders who fear that Trump’s stance might lead to a poor deal for Ukraine and that he might not continue the same level of support for the country as the Biden administration has provided.
Included in this latest round of military assistance are a range of weapons and systems from U.S. stockpiles, such as counter-unmanned aerial systems, air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and missiles. This marks the latest chapter in the U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s defense, bringing the total amount of U.S. security assistance to over $65 billion since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The U.S. continues to prioritize helping Ukraine as the war shows no signs of slowing.
