A few weeks before President-elect Donald Trump took office, the United States announced financial and military aid to Ukraine totaling almost $6 billion. US President Joe Biden, who is still in office, announced military aid worth $2.5 billion (around €2.4 billion) on Monday, and the US Treasury Department released $3.4 billion in budget aid for Kiev.
According to Biden, the US government has used all of the funds approved by Congress in spring 2024 for Ukraine. Regarding the new military aid, Biden said he was “proud to announce $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine today as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom against Russian aggression.”
The new aid reportedly includes a $1.25 billion package that will enable the Pentagon to quickly send weapons from US stockpiles to Ukraine. According to the US State Department, this will enable Himars artillery systems, guided missiles, anti-tank systems, air-to-ground ammunition and spare parts to be delivered to Ukraine. Another $1.22 billion will be funded by the defense industry through a military equipment procurement initiative.
Regarding the additional budget aid amounting to $3.4 billion, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said it would help “enable Ukraine to achieve a just peace.”
Biden said he had directed his administration to continue to provide as much military aid as possible to Ukraine, including older US equipment. This should be brought to the combat area as quickly as possible because Ukraine is losing territory to Russian troops.
At the beginning of the month, the USA announced an aid package worth almost a billion dollars. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is standing with more than 50 other countries to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against “Russian aggression”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on online networks that the US support comes at an important time when Russia is increasing its attacks and even using North Korean soldiers and continues to receive weapons from North Korea and Iran. Addressing all of his country's Western allies, he said that, together with Ukraine, they should “continue to move toward peace with strength” in the new year in order to achieve it in 2025.
