Sec. Austin to announce billions in Ukraine military aid in Germany

[ryan robertson]

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING WHAT MAY BE ITS FINAL WEAPONS PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THE PACKAGE DURING HIS VISIT TO RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY THURSDAY–THAT’S WHERE THE 25TH MEETING OF THE UKRAINE DEFENSE CONTACT GROUP IS TAKING PLACE. IT’S UNCLEAR IF THE GROUP WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW PACKAGE, EXPECTED TO TOTAL SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS, WILL DRAW FROM EXISTING U.S. MILITARY STOCKPILES AND INCLUDE CRITICAL ITEMS LIKE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS, ARTILLERY, AND ARMORED VEHICLES.

THE PACKAGE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL, ALTHOUGH IT WILL LIKELY NOT EXHAUST THE APPROXIMATELY $4 BILLION REMAINING IN CONGRESSIONALLY AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR UKRAINE. IT’S EXPECTED MORE THAN A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOCATE AS IT SEES FIT.

IN RECENT WEEKS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RUSHED TO SEND MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID WORTH NEARLY $6 BILLION. TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN ANNOUNCED $3.4 BILLION IN ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO HELP FUND UKRAINE’S GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 BILLION IS BEING ALLOCATED FOR SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS UKRAINE’S IMMEDIATE DEFENSE NEEDS.

SINCE 2022, THE U.S. PROVIDED UKRAINE WITH $66 BILLION OF THE $126 BILLION IN TOTAL AID CONTRIBUTED BY PARTNER NATIONS. THE 50 NATIONS MAKING UP THE UKRAINE DEFENSE CONTACT GROUP ALL PLAY A PART IN DISTRIBUTING THOSE FUNDS, EQUIPMENT AND TRAININGS. THE GROUP WAS ORGANIZED BY SECRETARY AUSTIN AFTER RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. THE SECDEF SAYS THE GROUP HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONALLY COORDINATED SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

THE CONFLICT, NOW NEARING ITS THIRD YEAR, REMAINS DYNAMIC AS BOTH SIDES SEEK STRATEGIC ADVANTAGES BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAKES OFFICE LATER THIS MONTH. UKRAINE CONTINUES TO FACE INTENSE MISSILE STRIKES AND AERIAL ATTACKS FROM RUSSIA – WHILE ALSO LAUNCHING A SECOND OFFENSIVE IN THE KURSK REGION.

TRANSITION DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S TEAM INCLUDED THE FUTURE OF U.S. AID TO UKRAINE. WHILE TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO END THE WAR, HE HAS SINCE ACKNOWLEDGED ACHIEVING THAT GOAL WILL BE COMPLEX.

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