Biden administration to announce last military aid package for Ukraine Thurs, won't use funds
The Biden administration is set to announce a massive, final weapons aid package for Ukraine as part of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to Germany on Thursday, January 9, to meet with representatives of about 50 partner nations who have come to Ukraine's defense in the Ramstein format, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing two senior defense officials. The package will not include all of the congressionally authorized funding for Ukraine.
"The officials did not provide an exact dollar amount but said the package was expected to be 'substantial,' although it would not include all of the roughly $4 billion left in the congressionally authorized funding for Ukraine. There likely would be 'more than a couple of billion dollars' remaining for the incoming Trump defense team to provide to Ukraine if it chose to do so," the agency said.
Biden defense officials working on Ukraine have been in contact with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's transition team to discuss "all the issues that we believe are important, " one of the officials said. The package to be announced on Thursday will be drawn from existing stockpiles with a goal of getting most of the weapons pledged to Ukraine by the time Trump is sworn in, one of the defense officials said.
As reported, the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format is scheduled for January 9. Trump's inauguration will be held on January 20.