US President Biden announces $2.5bn military aid package to Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine war News

US President Joe Biden’s administration has made more than $65bn in support since the Russian invasion.

US President Joe Biden has announced that his administration will send up to $2.5bn in military aid to Ukraine, as the president rushes aid to the war-torn country before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

The new round of aid, announced on Monday, includes $1.25bn taken from the president’s withdrawal authority, which allows Biden to withdraw equipment from the US military without the need for Congressional approval.

Another $1.22bn comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a program run by the Department of Defense and funded by congressional funds.

In addition to military aid, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also unveiled $3.4bn in economic aid on Monday to help the Ukrainian government and support its infrastructure.

“I have directed my administration to continue providing substantial assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “Under my direction, the United States will continue to work diligently to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this conflict for the remainder of my term in office.”

As of February 2022, Ukraine wanted to end the all-out invasion from Russia. But in the years since the war broke out, Republicans have grown increasingly torn about providing future aid to the country.

That support may face its biggest test in the new year. In January, the Republican Party will control both houses of Congress and the White House.

While Biden, a Democrat, has been a strong supporter of continued US aid to Ukraine, President-elect Trump has expressed skepticism about further aid and expressed his desire to end the war quickly. He campaigned on an “America First” policy platform.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Biden on Monday for the latest US aid, which comes at an important time for his country.

Ukraine is facing a labor shortage and the country’s stability after almost three years of fighting. Russian troops also continue to advance in eastern Ukraine: On Sunday, for example, Russia claimed to have captured the village of Novotroitske.

Since launching an all-out attack on Russia in 2022, the US Department of Defense says the Biden administration has spent more than $65bn in support.

As part of that amount, Biden delivered 23 aid packages from USAI funds. Monday’s announcement also marks 73 “equipment components” Biden has taken from the ranks of the Department of Defense starting in August 2021.

“Every act of solidarity from our partners saves lives, strengthens our independence, and strengthens our resilience. It also shows that democracies are stronger than extremist oppressors,” said Zelenskyy on the social network X.

Monday’s weapons package will include drones, guided missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), antitank weapon systems, anti-aircraft guns and bunkers, according to the Defense Ministry.

Support for this aid remains high. A November poll by the Pew Research Center found that 25 percent of Americans believe the US is sending the right amount of aid to Ukraine, while 18 percent said it is not sending enough.

In contrast, 27 percent of survey respondents indicated that most aid is sent to Ukraine.

That number increased among people affiliated with the Republican Party, when taken alone. About 42 percent of Republicans told the Pew Center that the US sends too much aid. Only 19 percent indicated that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was dangerous for the US.