Joe Biden Announces $2.5 Billion Security Aid Package For Ukraine
U.S President Joe Biden has announced a new security aid package for Ukraine, the final aid package of 2024 and perhaps the last before the end of his presidency, before President elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan 20, 2025. Biden out lined the contents of the package in a statement from the White House:
‘Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression…Today’s announcement—which includes an additional $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package—builds on this effort and will provide Ukraine with both an immediate influx of capabilities that it continues to use to great effect on the battlefield and longer-term supplies of air defense, artillery, and other critical weapons systems.’
He also spoke on the use of older U.S equipment and the production of ammunition for use on the Ukrainian frontlines:
‘I’ve directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible—including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons. The Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles which will strengthen Ukraine’s hand as it heads into the winter. At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.’
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on his X account on Sunday Dec 29, remarking on the need for further support for the ongoing war:
‘Every additional supply from our partners means more saved lives of our soldiers.’
The Presidential Drawdown Authority capabilities include:
- Munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS)
- HAWK air defense munitions
- Stinger missiles
- Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions
- Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
- 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition
- Air-to-ground munitions: High-speed Anti-radiation missiles (HARMs)
- Unmanned Aerials Systems (UAS)
- Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems
- Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles
- Small arms and ammunition and grenades
- Demolitions equipment and munitions
- Verfied & Profile Mors Secure communications equipment
- Commercial satellite imagery services
- Medical equipment
- Clothing and individual equipment
- Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.
It remains to be seen what will be included in the $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package. There is still around $4.3 billion remaining for packages based on Presidential Drawdown Authority.
As the new year beckons it is unclear if Trump will continue military US aid for Ukraine after he takes office in late January, however, this final aid package has used up all USAI funds which were allocated by Congress in the $60 billion supplemental package signed in April 2024.