US announces the latest aid package for Ukraine from Biden administration
Photo: Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin (Getty Images)
The United States has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine. It amounts to $500 million, according to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
He announced in Germany, where he arrived to head the contact group for Ukraine's defense (Ramstein) for the last time before leaving office.
As previously reported by the media, this was the last military aid package to Kyiv during the administration of US President Joe Biden.
According to Austin, the aid includes additional missiles for Ukraine's air defense system, more shells, and more air-to-ground missiles and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16s.
“Here again in Ramstein, I am determined to do all I can to help Ukraine live in freedom and security—and to forge a more just and decent world. And our work together must continue,” the Pentagon chief said.
He emphasized that the basic truth is that Ukraine's struggle is important to all allies.
“As I said here in Ramstein back at our first meeting in April 2022, Putin's war "is a challenge to free people everywhere." And we all have a stake in ensuring that autocrats cannot place their imperial ambitions ahead of the bedrock rights of free and sovereign peoples. Ukraine is waging a just war of self-defense. And it is one of the great causes of our time,” Austin said.
He said that chairing this Contact Group has been one of the greatest honors of his life and added that he looks forward to another very productive meeting.
Updated at 2:19. Later, the Pentagon's website also published a list of new aid from the United States. According to the department, the package includes:
- AIM-7, RIM-7 and AIM-9M missiles for air defense;
- air-to-ground missiles;
- auxiliary equipment for the F-16;
- armored bridge systems;
- secure communications equipment;
- small arms and ammunition;
- spare parts, support equipment, services, training, and transportation.
US assistance to Ukraine
In recent weeks, Biden's plans to provide military assistance to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes over the White House have accelerated.
Thus, in late December, Washington announced the allocation of $2.5 billion to Kyiv. This package of American military aid was the largest since January 2023.
However, the Pentagon warned that the Biden administration would not have time to implement the entire amount of the aid package approved by Congress in the spring of 2024 before President Trump took office and that several billion dollars would remain.
Therefore, after Trump's inauguration, it will be his administration that will manage the remaining amount.
25th meeting in Ramstein format
Today, January 9, a new meeting of Ukraine's allies in the Ramstein format is taking place. Representatives of the Contact Group gathered at a military air base in Germany after a four-month break.
The meeting is chaired by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Germany to participate in Ramstein. According to him, the key topic will be strengthening Ukraine's air defense system.
In turn, the Pentagon reported that Ramstein will consider military support for Ukraine until 2027. Roadmaps will be developed to enable donors to support Kyiv in the future.
