...
By Jon Jackson and Rachel Dobkin
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The United States is expected to announce that it will provide Ukraine with $1.25 billion in military assistance, The Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday.
Why It Matters
The new aid was reported amid Russia's bombardment against Ukraine's power facilities in recent days. Ukraine, however, said it intercepted a significant number of missiles and drones.
Read More on World
Knocking out Ukraine's power would be devastating as the country braces for its third winter of a war that started when Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Russia's Eastern European neighbor.
Meanwhile, Russia is still trying to push back Ukrainian forces around the Russian border region of Kursk. Thousands of North Korean troops have been deployed to Kursk to help Moscow's war effort after Ukraine claimed territory during a surprise incursion that began in early August. Following the deployment of North Korean troops, President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to launch U.S.-supplied weapons deeper inside Russia.
What To Know
Citing U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the AP said the announcement of the new aid should come on Monday as the Biden administration attempts to provide Kyiv with as much military assistance as possible before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20, 2025.
...
What's Included In The New Ukrainian Aid Package?
The aid package includes a significant amount of military equipment, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system, the AP reports.
Stinger missiles and 155-millimeter and 105-millimeter artillery rounds are also to be provided, according to the unnamed officials.
How Much U.S. Aid Has Ukraine Received?
Including the newly reported aid package, the U.S. will have provided over $64 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war.
A senior defense official told reporters earlier this month that the Pentagon may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Ukrainian military aid passed by Congress before Trump takes office.
The new aid would reduce the remaining amount of military assistance promised to Ukraine to roughly $4.35 billion.
Meanwhile, there is also roughly $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts. An official cited by the AP said the Biden administration plans to release the rest of the $1.2 billion by the end of 2024, however, the weapons contracts would not be delivered for another year or more.
While the U.S. will continue to supply military aid to Ukraine before Biden leaves office, there may well be money remaining for Trump's incoming administration to spend, according to a senior defense official cited in the AP's reporting.
What Happens Next
Ukraine has put up a surprisingly good fight against Russia with the help of its Western allies. Biden has been a close ally to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, with Trump replacing Biden in a few weeks, it's unclear how America's position in the war may change.
Trump has said that if he were at the negotiating table with Putin and Zelensky, the war between the two Eastern European nations, would end "within 24 hours." Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that a deal brokered by Trump could put Ukraine in a poor position. These officials also worry that Trump won't give Ukraine all the military aid passed by Congress.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 12/27/24 4:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines