The Biden administration has allocated over $65bn in support since the full-scale invasion by Russia.
President Joe Biden has confirmed that his administration will provide nearly $2.5bn in military aid to Ukraine as he rushes to assist the war-torn nation before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.
The latest aid package, announced on Monday, includes $1.25bn from presidential drawdown authority, which allows Biden to access materials from US military supplies without congressional approval.
An additional $1.22bn comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program managed by the Department of Defense and funded through congressional appropriations.
Along with military assistance, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also revealed $3.4bn in economic aid on Monday to support Ukraine’s government and infrastructure.
“I’ve instructed my administration to continue providing assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden stated. “The United States will persist in reinforcing Ukraine’s position in this conflict throughout the remainder of my term.”
Since February 2022, Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale invasion from Russia. However, Republican support for future aid to Ukraine has become increasingly divided in recent years.
Future aid is expected to face challenges in the new year as the Republican Party will take control of Congress and the White House in January.
While Biden has been a strong advocate for continued US aid to Ukraine, President-elect Trump has shown skepticism about providing further assistance and has expressed a desire to end the conflict swiftly, emphasizing an “America First” policy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Biden on Monday for the latest US aid package, which arrives at a critical juncture for his country.
After nearly three years of conflict, Ukraine is experiencing shortages in manpower and strain on national morale. Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine, with claims of seizing the village of Novotroitske on Sunday.
According to the US Defense Department, the Biden administration has pledged more than $65bn in support since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Biden has delivered 23 aid packages utilizing USAI funds as part of that total. The announcement on Monday also signifies the 73rd equipment “tranche” drawn by Biden from Defense Department inventories since August 2021.
Zelenskyy stated on social media, “Every show of solidarity from our allies saves lives, boosts our independence, and strengthens our resilience. It also demonstrates that democracies are more powerful than autocratic aggressors.”
The weapons package unveiled on Monday includes drones, guided missiles, HIMARS ammunition, antitank systems, air-to-ground munitions, and spare parts, according to the Defense Department.
Public support for such assistance remains high, with a November poll by the Pew Research Center showing that 25 percent of Americans believe the right amount of aid is being sent to Ukraine, while 18 percent feel it is insufficient.
However, 27 percent of respondents believe too much assistance is being provided to Ukraine, with a larger percentage of Republicans indicating this view. Approximately 42 percent of Republicans surveyed by the Pew Center believe the US is sending excessive aid, with only 19 percent seeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a threat to the US.
