US to provide Ukraine with new military aid package worth nearly $2.5 bln – Biden

United States President Joe Biden announced a new $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine on Monday, December 30.

Rubryka reported this with reference to a statement from the White House.

"Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression," the White House quotes US President Joe Biden as saying.

Thus, Ukraine will receive a $1.25 billion military assistance package and a $1.22 billion package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). This should provide the Defense Forces with air defense, artillery, and other weapons systems.

According to Biden, the Pentagon is currently in the process of delivering:

• hundreds of thousands of artillery shells,
• thousands of missiles,
• hundreds of armored vehicles.

These munitions will strengthen Ukraine on the way to winter.

The US Department of Defense has used up all the remaining USAI funds. Furthermore, Joe Biden directed his administration to promptly provide Ukraine with as much aid as possible, including getting rid of older American equipment.

It's important to mention that the new package includes $1.22 billion in aid under the USAI program. This means that the weaponry and equipment will still need to be produced and then handed over to Ukraine.

$ 1.24 billion in assistance will come from Pentagon reserves.

Earlier, the Associated Press wrote that the US should soon announce a $1.25 billion military aid package for Ukraine. According to the publication, the new aid package should include Stinger missiles and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells.

The States announced the previous aid package on December 13. At that time, it included ammunition for HIMARS, artillery ammunition, and drones.

Also, on the eve, the State Budget of Ukraine received a tranche of US $485 million under the World Bank project "Support for Government Expenditures to Ensure Sustainable Governance in Ukraine" (PEACE in Ukraine).

For reference:

Support from the United States, including weapons, ammunition, and other equipment, is critical to Ukraine's ability to confront Russia's aggression. A reduction in this assistance could severely impact Ukraine's capacity for active defense and adequate territorial protection.

A few days ago, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, during a meeting with the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, stated that the US would provide an "avalanche" of military aid until the end of President Joe Biden's administration. This aid includes large-scale weapons, equipment, and ammunition deliveries and new sanctions against Russia.

It is worth noting that in early November, the United States announced a $425 million military aid package for Ukraine. The package includes missiles, ammunition, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine could face a critical situation if the US reduces military aid. The resources currently available from Ukrainian production are insufficient to resist Russian aggression effectively.

Additionally, there are concerns that the US may not allocate more than $6.5 billion in funds for weapons deliveries to Ukraine before the end of Joe Biden's presidential term.

Last week, it was revealed that President Joe Biden had requested Congress to approve an additional $24 billion for military aid to Ukraine and to replenish American weapons stockpiles already sent to Kyiv.

However, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson has stated that he will not bring President Biden's proposed additional aid package for Ukraine to a vote.

In turn, on December 26, US President Joe Biden ordered the Pentagon to increase the supply of weapons to Ukraine. According to the American leader, in recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, "and even more are on the way."