US unveils $500m military aid for Ukraine as Russia closes in on key city
Al Jazeera
Outgoing Biden administration eager to fast-track more packages before aid-sceptic Trump takes office early next year.
The United States will give $500m in military aid to Ukraine as part of an 11th-hour push by outgoing President Joe Biden to bolster the country’s defences before he leaves office early next year.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled the “significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment” on Thursday, which will include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, ammunition, drones and armoured vehicles.
President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory last month could lead to drastic cuts in US military aid for Ukraine, a prospect that has led the current administration to rush through billions of dollars in already authorised assistance before he takes office.
The new assistance followed closely on the heels of a $988m security assistance package and a $725m weapons package announced earlier this month.
After Thursday’s package, Biden will still have access to about $5.6bn of Presidential Drawdown Authority to rush weapons from US stocks to the front lines without congressional approval.
