The United States has unveiled a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office.
“This significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment will support our Ukrainian partners as they continue to defend against Russia’s ongoing aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in a statement on Thursday. The aid will be drawn from existing U.S. military stockpiles.
Trump’s election victory in November has raised questions about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine, leaving a limited window for disbursing billions of dollars in already authorized assistance before his inauguration next month.
The Republican has indicated that his administration will “probably” scale back aid to Ukraine, a country Washington has steadfastly supported since the onset of the war with Russia nearly three years ago.
The newly announced package includes ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, artillery rounds, drones, armored vehicles, and protective equipment against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, among other supplies, according to the statement.
This announcement follows two earlier security assistance packages this month: one valued at $988 million and another at $725 million.
