Biden Administration Ramps Up Assistance to Ukraine with Additional Military and Budget Aid
The Biden administration is sending nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine as part of its continued efforts to support Kyiv in the final weeks of President Biden’s term. The new aid package will include air defense systems, artillery, and other essential weapons, according to a statement from President Biden on Monday morning.
“I’ve directed my administration to continue delivering as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said. “This includes drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, swiftly delivering it to the battlefield, and revitalizing the U.S. defense industry to replenish our stockpiles with new weapons.”
The $2.5 billion in military aid will be split into two parts: $1.25 billion will come from existing Pentagon stockpiles, while $1.22 billion will be allocated from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The latter program allows military equipment to be sourced from the U.S. defense industry and international partners.
In addition to the military assistance, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen announced that $3.4 billion in budget aid would be released to Ukraine. This funding, distributed through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, represents the final disbursement from the bipartisan Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024. Yellen stated that the continued aid is contingent on Ukraine’s progress in implementing reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening law enforcement, and combating corruption.
The timing of this additional support comes amid concerns in Ukraine over potential changes in U.S. policy under the incoming Trump administration. While Donald Trump has pledged to end the war quickly, he has not detailed his strategy. Vice President-elect JD Vance has suggested a plan allowing Russia to retain the territory it has seized from Ukraine.
This new aid package marks the largest single U.S. contribution to Ukraine since April, when a new round of assistance was approved after a lengthy delay in Congress. Pentagon officials have noted that while there is still $5.6 billion allocated by Congress for military support to Ukraine, it is unlikely that all of this will be spent before the Trump administration takes office next month. The $1.22 billion from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative will essentially exhaust the remaining funds in that program.
Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has now lasted nearly three years, with the conflict spilling back into Russian territory. Recently, the White House revealed that more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded while fighting Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. This marks a significant loss for North Korea, with nearly 10% of their deployed soldiers reportedly killed or injured. The U.S. has criticized both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for sending poorly equipped and ill-prepared troops to the frontlines.
In August, Ukrainian forces advanced into Russian territory, capturing and holding positions, a first in the ongoing conflict. Initially, U.S. officials questioned the wisdom of Ukraine’s incursion, fearing it could deplete resources needed on other fronts. However, some American officials have since revised their assessments, noting that Ukraine has managed to inflict heavy losses on Russian counterattacks while sustaining relatively few casualties.
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