Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced new military aid for Ukraine
US has announced new military assistance for Ukraine as transition to new Trump administration begins.
In a critical move before the incoming administration, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional $988 million military aid package for Ukraine.
The new allocation, made through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), pushes the total U.S. aid to Ukraine past $62 billion since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
The $988 million package of new equipment, provisioned under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, includes unmanned aerial systems, rocket munitions and support for maintenance and repair programs.
Unlike previous packages drawn from U.S. military stockpiles for rapid delivery, this initiative focuses on contracts for manufacturing and future delivery.
The Biden administration has sent 22 USAI packages to Ukraine and aims to deliver as much aid as possible before the Trump administration takes office on January 20.
However, a U.S. official indicated nearly $8 billion in available Ukraine aid funding may remain unused, leaving the decision about its allocation to the next administration.
“Together, we have helped Ukraine survive an all-out assault by the largest military in Europe,” Austin said on Saturday.
“And together, we have helped Ukraine survive an all-out assault by the largest military in Europe,” he said.
Russia, the secretary said, has paid a “staggering price” for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression.
Austin announced the new package during his address at the Reagan National Defense Forum hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, California, where he underscored the imperative for the United States and its global network of allies to continue to stand resolute in helping Ukraine defend itself.
Austin highlighted the immense toll Russia has faced, with over 700,000 casualties and economic losses exceeding $200 billion.
He urged continued support for Ukraine, describing the ongoing conflict as a glimpse into a world ruled by “tyrants and thugs.”
“This administration has made its choice, and so has a bipartisan coalition in Congress,” Austin stated.
“The next administration must make its own choice.”
He added that, as a percentage of gross domestic product, more than a dozen UDCG members now provide more security assistance to Ukraine than the U.S. does.
“As I said in Kyiv in October, we are seeing ‘a sneak preview of a world built by tyrants and thugs — a chaotic world, violent world carved into spheres of influence; a world where bullies trample their smaller neighbors; and a world where aggressors force free people to live in fear,'” Austin said.
Amid the transition, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Foreign leaders are pressing Trump to maintain support for Ukraine.
Trump, who has reportedly communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office, has vowed to end the war within “24 hours” of assuming office.
Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is already facing scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct and public intoxication.
Despite the controversy, Trump has defended his choice, emphasizing Hegseth’s military commitment.
In his keynote, Austin reflected on the challenges ahead. “The baton will soon be passed. Others will decide the course ahead. And I hope they will build on the strength that we have forged over the past four years,” he concluded.
“So, we can continue to stand up to the Kremlin, or we can let Putin have his way — and condemn our children and grandchildren to live in a world of chaos and conflict,” he said.
Since April 2022, Austin has continued to rally the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a global network of some 50 partners committed to Ukraine’s near-term battlefield needs and its long-term ability to deter future aggression.
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