US announces $5.9bn in military, budget aid for Ukraine
With Donald Trump’s inauguration just weeks away, only a limited time remained for billions of dollars in already authorised assistance to be disbursed.
The US on Monday unveiled almost $6bn in military and budgetary aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to provide assistance before Donald Trump takes office next month.
The imminent return of Mr Trump, who has repeatedly criticised aid for Ukraine, has cast doubt on American support continuing at similar levels as under outgoing President Joe Biden.
With Mr Trump’s swearing in three weeks away, only a limited time remained for billions of dollars in already authorised assistance to be disbursed.
“Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5bn in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression,” Mr Biden said in a statement.
The package includes a $1.25bn military “drawdown,” which allows the Pentagon to take weapons from US stocks and send them quickly to the battlefield.
An additional $1.22bn will be funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is procured from the defence industry or partners.
The latest drawdown includes drones, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), optically guided missiles, anti-tank weapons systems, air-to-ground munitions and spare parts, the US State Department has said.
The Treasury Department, meanwhile, announced the disbursement of $3.4bn in direct budgetary support for Ukraine.
Mr Biden said his administration had now allocated all the Ukraine aid money appropriated by congress in the northern spring of this year after arduous negotiations.
The President said he had ordered his administration to keep sending Ukraine as much military aid as possible, including older US equipment, and rushing it to the battlefield as Ukraine loses territory to the Russian troops that invaded in February 2022.
“Together with the security assistance America is providing Ukraine and Treasury’s actions to further tighten sanctions on Russia’s war machine, we will continue to do everything in our power to position Ukraine to achieve a just peace,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
As Ukraine heads into winter, the Pentagon is delivering artillery rounds, rockets and armoured vehicles, Mr Biden said.
“The US and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the aid came at a critical moment as Russia intensified its assaults, “even resorting to involving North Korean soldiers and continuing to receive weapons from North Korea and Iran”.
The Ukrainian leader also called on Kyiv’s Western backers to continue boosting his country’s defences in a bid to secure an end to the conflict next year.
“We must continue moving towards peace through strength to achieve our common goal of peace in 2025 – a goal shared by Ukraine and all its partners,” Mr Zelensky said in a social media post.
The latest US assistance for Ukraine follows an announcement at the beginning of the month of a nearly $1bn tranche of drones, ammunition and equipment.
The outgoing Biden administration is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Mr Trump takes office.
AFP
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