The administration of current U.S. President Joe Biden wants to announce the allocation of a massive final arms package to Ukraine before he leaves office.
The American news agency Associated Press reported this on Tuesday, January 7.
Two defense officials familiar with the matter told the publication that the announcement of the new aid package will be part of a visit to Germany on Thursday, January 9, by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who is scheduled to meet with representatives of about 50 partner countries that have come to the defense of Ukraine after the full-scale russian invasion.
“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 USD 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 officials said Tuesday in briefing reporters traveling with Austin,” the report said.
Biden officials working on Ukraine have been in contact with Trump’s transition team to discuss all major issues, one of the officials said.
Austin’s trip to Ramstein Air Base will be his last meeting with the Ukraine assistance team. Allies have provided more than USD 126 billion in weapons and military training and assistance. Of that, the United States has provided USD 66 billion.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on January 3, White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby said that the United States is going to announce new security assistance for Ukraine in the coming days.
On December 24, Ukraine received the first USD 1 billion from the United States, secured by proceeds from frozen assets of the aggressor country russia.
On December 13, CNN, citing a senior Biden administration official, said that the administration is working to increase arms supplies to Ukraine in the last days of his tenure.
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