Washington DC: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin has unveiled a $988 million military aid package for Ukraine, emphasizing continued support as the country resists the ongoing Russian invasion.
Austin was speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum hosted by the Ronald Reagan Institute, where he discussed the future of America’s national security and the progress achieved over the past four years.
This announcement brings total US military aid to Ukraine since February 2022 to $62 billion, showcasing a robust commitment under President Joe Biden’s administration.
The new aid package includes drones and munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARs) and is funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), designed to provide longer-term military capabilities.
It comes amid Austin’s pointed remarks directed at the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has criticized US involvement in Ukraine and NATO.
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Austin highlighted the importance of sustaining bipartisan support for Ukraine, referencing Reagan’s legacy of championing freedom.
The Biden administration has largely been using “presidential drawdown authority” to withdraw excess defence materials from US stockpiles and transfer them to Ukraine, without congressional approval. Approximately $6bn remains in the president’s hands under his drawdown authority.
However, Trump has vowed to pursue an “America First” agenda, expressing scepticism toward continued aid to Kyiv and blaming Biden’s administration for the US’s involvement in the conflict.
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy briefly met in Paris during the Notre-Dame reopening ceremony, but Trump’s past criticism of Zelenskyy and his campaign promises to “settle the war in Ukraine” raise questions about the future of US-Ukraine relations.
With Biden’s term ending on January 20, the aid package underscores the administration’s push to bolster Ukraine’s defences before the transition.