The United States on Saturday announced a new $988 million military aid package for Ukraine in its war against Russia, as Washington races to provide aid to Kiev. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Trump’s victory in November’s presidential election has raised doubts about America’s future. US support for UkraineIt provides a limited window for billions of dollars in aid already approved to be provided before he is sworn in next month.
The package includes ammunition for drones, precision HIMARS rocket launchers, equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The aid will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Under this plan, military equipment would be procured from the defense industry or partners rather than from U.S. inventories. This means that military equipment will not arrive on the battlefield immediately.
This is the second round of the $725 million package announced on Monday that includes mines and anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapons.
The outgoing Biden administration is trying to provide as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump, who has repeatedly criticized U.S. support for Kiev, begins his second White House term in January.
That too comes same day as trump had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky This comes after French President Emmanuel Macron visited Paris to attend the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which underwent extensive renovations following a fire in 2019.
Details about what happened at the meeting were not immediately known.
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Trump’s comments have sparked fears in Kiev and Europe about the future of U.S. support and Ukraine’s ability to withstand a Russian attack without additional U.S. support.
The United States has led the international push for support for Ukraine, quickly forming a coalition to support Kiev and coordinating support from dozens of countries after Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022.
Ukraine’s international supporters have since become key to Kiev’s resistance to Russian forces, providing tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, ammunition, training and other security assistance.
Last month, President Biden Restrictions lifted This marks a change in U.S. policy in the war by allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-provided long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.
The Biden administration also began the supply process to Ukraine last November. Controversial anti-personnel mines It is designed for use against people, not vehicles.
