WASHINGTON — President Biden on Monday announced that the United States will receive nearly $2.5 billion more as the administration moves quickly to use all available funds to support the fight against Russia in Kiev before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. He said he would send weapons to Ukraine.
The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential revocation authority that would allow the military to pull existing inventories off shelves and get weapons to the battlefield faster. There is also a $1.22 billion long-term arms package contracted through a separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
Mr. Biden said he had exhausted all of USAI’s long-term funding and promised to spend any remaining withdrawal funds before he leaves office.
“I have directed my administration to continue assistance to Ukraine as soon as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “Following my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war during the remainder of my term.”
The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks on Ukrainian power facilities in recent days, with Ukraine saying it has intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also continuing fierce fighting around the Russian border region of Kursk, with Moscow sending thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory occupied by Ukraine.
The Biden administration is pushing to bring arms to Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest possible negotiating position before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. President Trump has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would seek some kind of negotiated solution between Ukraine and Russia.
Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that President Trump’s talk of a settlement could lead to a deal that is disadvantageous to Ukraine, and that President Trump may not provide Ukraine with all of the arms funding that Congress has authorized. I am concerned that this may not be the case.
Weapon systems drawn from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include anti-unmanned air system ammunition, air defense ammunition, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) ammunition, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-to-ground ammunition, and air defense ammunition. Included. – Armor systems, launcher missiles, fragmentation grenades, other items and spare parts.
Including Monday’s announcement, the United States has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the neighboring country in February 2022.
Kopp writes for The Associated Press.
