On Monday, the United States revealed it would be providing nearly $6 billion in extra military and budget support for Ukraine. This move comes as President Joe Biden aims to ramp up assistance to Kyiv during his last weeks in office before Donald Trump steps in as President.
Among the announcements was an allocation of $2.5 billion specifically for security aid. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also mentioned that an additional $3.4 billion in budget support is now available for Ukraine, which is crucial given the increasing Russian assaults on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
Biden emphasized, At my direction, the United States will continue to work tirelessly to bolster Ukraine’s position in this conflict for the remainder of my presidency. His announcement includes $1.25 billion worth of military aid sourced from U.S. stockpiles and a $1.22 billion package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), marking the last USAI package he will oversee while in office.
It’s worth noting that with USAI, military equipment is purchased from defense contractors or allies instead of being taken straight from U.S. reserves, which can mean it takes quite a while to actually reach the front lines.
In a recent statement, Yellen highlighted that the latest round of direct budget support, coordinated with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, represents the last payment under the 2024 Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Since Russia’s invasion nearly three years ago, Congress has authorized a substantial total of $175 billion in assistance for Ukraine, as reported by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Interestingly, reports have emerged that Russia has been deploying North Korean troops to strengthen their forces. Unfortunately, these North Korean soldiers have faced heavy losses on the battlefield; just last week alone, around 1,000 were either killed or injured in Russia’s Kursk region, according to White House spokesperson John Kirby.
President Biden remarked that this new aid package would give Ukraine an immediate influx of capabilities, which they are effectively utilizing on the front lines. He emphasized that it would also provide long-term supplies of essential equipment like air defense systems and artillery.
As we approach three years into this conflict, Washington has poured billions into supporting Ukraine; however, there’s some uncertainty about whether this level of aid will continue once Trump takes office on January 20.
Trump has expressed his desire to end the war quickly and during his campaign raised questions about how much financial responsibility European allies should take on compared to the U.S.
Some Republican leaders who will be in control of both chambers of Congress starting next month seem to be less enthusiastic about sending more aid to Kyiv.
A U.S. official noted that with an additional $3.4 billion in budget funding recently provided, total U.S. budgetary support for Ukraine now exceeds $30 billion since February 2022 when Russia invaded.
Much of this funding goes toward keeping essential government services running—like paying teachers and other public employees’ salaries.
On top of that financial support, Washington has also delivered around $61.4 billion specifically for security assistance since the war began according to Pentagon sources.
Biden mentioned that the Defense Department is currently working on supplying hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds along with thousands of rockets and armored vehicles to bolster Ukraine as winter approaches.
Yellen stressed how vital ongoing economic support is for Ukraine so it can maintain its government functions and defend its sovereignty while cautioning against any cuts in funding: Ukraine’s success is key to America’s national interest, she asserted and promised continued sanctions against Moscow while helping position Ukraine towards achieving a fair peace agreement.
We must stay committed to this cause.