Outgoing Biden Administration Unveils Another $500M Aid Package For Ukraine Ahead Of Trump Taking Office

The administration of Democratic US President Joe Biden unveiled a new weapons aid package for Ukraine on Thursday (12 December), valued at $500 million, according to an official statement from Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

White House spokesperson John Kirby emphasised the administration's commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating that additional aid packages would continue to be provided "right up to the end of this administration."

This announcement comes just 10 days after Washington pledged $725 million in military support, including missiles, ammunition, anti-personnel mines, and other weaponry.

With President Biden's term ending in January and Republican President-elect Donald Trump set to assume office, the outgoing administration is intensifying efforts to bolster Ukraine's defence against Russia's ongoing invasion.

The latest aid package includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and High-speed Anti-radiation Missiles (HARMs), along with other critical support, as detailed by Blinken.

Following this package, approximately $5.6 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) funds remain available to expedite weapon transfers from U.S. stockpiles to the battlefield without requiring congressional approval.

Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remains dire.

Russian forces continue their advance in the eastern Donbas region, capturing village after village, while relentless airstrikes target Ukraine's energy infrastructure, exacerbating the challenges of a harsh winter.

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