President Joe Biden announced Monday a nearly $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine, aiming to bolster the country's defenses against Russia's ongoing invasion as his administration seeks to maximize support before the transition of power in January. The package underscores the administration's urgency to strengthen Ukraine's position amid concerns over future U.S. assistance under President-elect Donald Trump.
The latest aid includes $1.25 billion from presidential drawdown authority, which allows for rapid deployment of military equipment by tapping existing stockpiles, and $1.22 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a long-term funding mechanism for contracted military supplies. With this package, the administration has exhausted all allocated USAI funds.
"I've directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible," Biden said in a statement. "The United States will work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine's position in this war over the remainder of my time in office."
The package includes air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, anti-armor systems, and various other equipment critical to Ukraine's ongoing operations. According to the Department of Defense, the aid will provide "an immediate influx of capabilities" to Ukrainian forces as they face renewed Russian assaults on key infrastructure and border regions.
In tandem with the military support, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced $3.4 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine. This funding will help cover salaries for government and school employees, healthcare workers, and first responders, ensuring essential services continue amid the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the announcement, emphasizing the aid's importance to stabilizing the front lines. "This support is crucial to stabilizing the front lines -- every additional supply from our partners means more saved lives of our soldiers," Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
The urgency behind the aid is tied to the upcoming U.S. administration change. President-elect Trump has expressed interest in brokering a settlement between Ukraine and Russia, raising concerns among U.S. and European allies that any deal might compromise Ukraine's sovereignty or reduce military support. Since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
The Biden administration's strategy includes rapidly deploying older equipment from U.S. stockpiles to Ukraine while simultaneously revitalizing domestic defense production to replenish and modernize the Pentagon's inventories. He's "directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible -- including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons," Biden said.
Recent developments on the battlefield have intensified the need for robust military support. Ukrainian forces continue to resist Russian advances in the contested border region of Kursk, where Moscow has reportedly deployed thousands of North Korean troops to bolster its operations. Additionally, a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks has targeted Ukraine's power grid, compounding the challenges faced by civilians as winter sets in.
Biden's announcement also highlights the long-term commitment required to sustain Ukraine's defenses. The USAI package includes contracts for air defense systems and artillery, ensuring a steady supply of critical weapons beyond the immediate needs addressed by the drawdown authority.
