Biden administration prepares $1.2 bln military aid package for Ukraine - Reuters
Photo: US to announce $1.2 billion package (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Joe Biden will announce a $1.2 billion package within the next few days as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The remaining funds allocated for the procurement of new weapons for Ukraine will be utilized, Reuters reports.
According to agency sources, the package includes air defense interceptors and artillery ammunition, though the exact contents are expected to be disclosed when the package is officially announced in the coming days.
Under the USAI, military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners rather than drawn from US stockpiles, meaning delivery to the battlefield may take months or even years.
The USAI package could be one of the final measures the United States takes to provide direct military support to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares for the return of President-elect Donald Trump, who has publicly questioned military aid and promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office on January 20.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has allocated $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, including approximately $61.4 billion in security assistance.
About half of this security assistance has been provided through the USAI program, while the other portion has come from drawing down existing military stockpiles under the presidential drawdown authority.
The remaining presidential drawdown authority funds amount to $5.6 billion.
Further assistance in question
As Reuters notes, while the Biden administration prepares to unveil details of the final USAI package, questions remain about how and whether the United States will continue to assist its ally in the absence of targeted USAI funding.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly questioned US involvement in the conflict, suggesting that European allies should bear more of the financial burden. Some of his Republican colleagues, who will control the House of Representatives and the Senate starting next month, have also cooled on supporting aid to Kyiv.
Despite strong congressional support for continued or expanded assistance to Ukraine, this stance has raised concerns among Ukraine’s supporters in Washington about the future of US aid under the Trump administration.
Earlier, Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko reported that Ukraine is financially secure to continue the war through the first half of 2025. Marchenko believes that agreements must be reached during this time to extend US assistance.
