Biden administration unveils new $988m US military aid package to Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine war News

In the waning days of his presidency, Biden wants to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses during its years-long war against Russian aggression.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced that the United States will provide nearly $1 billion in additional military aid to war-torn Ukraine, as it tries to stem Russia’s continued aggression.

Unveiling the aid package on Saturday, Austin offered specific words aimed at the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

“The stick will pass soon,” Austin said. “Others will decide on the course we are going to take. And I hope they will build on the strength we have built over the last four years.”

The package, worth $988m, comes after a separate amount of $725m in military aid was announced on December 2.

The latest announcement includes drones and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMAR) weapons that the US has previously supplied.

In total, the US has provided $62bn in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion of the country in February 2022.

But the recent rush of money and exports to Ukraine comes in the darkest days of President Joe Biden’s administration. His term will end on January 20, when Trump takes office.

Under Trump, it is unclear whether the US will continue to support Ukraine. Trump has threatened to cut funding to the war in Ukraine and other military alliances, including NATO.

Speaking at a meeting of national security officials at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, Austin spoke briefly about the uncertainty ahead.

“This administration made its own elections. So is the bipartisan coalition in Congress. The next managers must choose for themselves,” said Austin.

He added that Reagan, a Republican icon, “would stand on the side of Ukraine, American security and civil liberties”.

The Biden administration has been using the president’s “subscription authority” to withdraw defense equipment from US stockpiles and transfer it to Ukraine, without congressional approval.

About $6bn remains in the hands of the president under his retrenchment authority.

But Saturday’s $988m package comes from $2.21bn left over from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows for the purchase of weapons and military equipment.

USAI is designed to provide Ukraine with long-term weapons systems to strengthen its military capabilities.

Trump, meanwhile, participated in a brief, closed-door meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Saturday.

Both were in Paris, France, to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.

When Trump campaigned for re-election earlier this year in Savannah, Georgia, Trump criticized Zelenskyy as the “biggest dealer on Earth” for withdrawing US military aid.

“Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he leaves with $100bn,” said Trump, citing the calculations made.

He accused Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his rival in the presidential race, of involving the US in Ukraine affairs.

“I will resolve the war in Ukraine and end the chaos in the Middle East,” he added. “Biden and Kamala got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can’t get us out.”

He added, “We’re stuck in that war unless I’m president.”

Trump has made it clear that he plans to pursue an “America First” policy in his second term.