The $500 million security package for Ukraine comes less than two weeks before President-elect Trump takes office
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The Biden administration announced an additional $500 million in military aid to Ukraine on Thursday, a security package expedited before President-elect Trump assumes office. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made this announcement during his final meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Both leaders urged the incoming Trump administration to maintain support for Ukraine’s struggle against Russia.Austin cautioned that if Russia were to overtake Ukraine, it would only encourage further aggression. He emphasized that if authoritarian leaders believe democracies will falter, it could lead to more territorial invasions and instability.
The latest U.S. assistance includes fighter jet missiles, F-16 support equipment, armored bridging systems, small arms, and ammunition. This package is funded through the presidential drawdown authority, allowing for swift delivery from U.S. stockpiles.
This marks the 74th tranche of military support from the Biden administration since August 2021, totaling approximately $122 billion from 57 allied nations. Currently, about $3.85 billion remains available for future aid shipments to Ukraine, which could be utilized by Trump if he chooses not to announce further assistance.Zelenskyy urged continuity in U.S. support, stating that abandoning Ukraine now would undermine the progress made in building defense coalitions.
He expressed the need for assurance that Ukraine would not be erased from existence amid global uncertainties.In response to the ongoing conflict, member nations have increased weapons production to address shortages revealed by the war.
Since February 2022, the U.S. has contributed around $66 billion in aid to Ukraine, with a significant portion already delivered. Austin reiterated that retreating from support would only incentivize further imperial aggression from Russia and warned that any hesitation would embolden Putin to escalate his actions against Ukraine.
