In the final days of his term, President Biden is working to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s invasion.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has announced that the United States will provide nearly $1bn in additional military aid to Ukraine to help them defend against the ongoing Russian invasion.
During the announcement on Saturday, Austin made remarks directed towards the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
“The baton will soon be passed,” Austin said. “Others will determine the path forward. I hope they will continue to build on the progress we have made over the past four years.”
This new aid package, valued at $988m, follows a previous $725m in military assistance announced on December 2.
The latest announcement includes drones and munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARs) that the US has provided in the past.
In total, the US has given $62bn in military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
However, the timing of this additional aid comes as President Biden’s term is coming to an end on January 20, when Trump will take office.
It remains uncertain whether the US under Trump’s administration will continue to support Ukraine, as Trump has previously threatened to cut funding to Ukraine and other military alliances like NATO.
Speaking at a meeting of national security officials in California, Austin briefly addressed the uncertainty ahead.
“This administration has made its decision. Congress has also shown bipartisan support. The next administration will need to make its own decision,” Austin commented.
He noted that Reagan would have supported Ukraine, American security, and human freedom.
The Biden administration has been using presidential drawdown authority to transfer excess defense materials from US stockpiles to Ukraine without congressional approval.
Approximately $6bn remains under the president’s drawdown authority.
However, the $988m package announced on Saturday comes from the $2.21bn left in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which allows for the purchase of weapons and military supplies.
The USAI is aimed at providing longer-term weapons systems to boost Ukraine’s military capabilities.
Meanwhile, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris, France, for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.
During his re-election campaign in Savannah, Georgia, Trump criticized Zelenskyy as the “greatest salesman on Earth” for securing military aid from the US.
He also blamed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for involving the US in Ukrainian affairs.
Trump has made it clear he intends to pursue an “America First” policy during his second term.
