He plans to send as much as he can while he still has the power. On Monday, President Joe Biden unveiled a nearly $6 billion aid package for Ukraine, reaffirming the United States’ dedication to supporting Kyiv amid intensifying Russian aggression. This final installment of aid includes both military assistance and economic support, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defenses and stabilizing its economy ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
The package allocates $2.5 billion for military assistance, divided into two streams: $1.25 billion will come directly from U.S. military stockpiles, ensuring immediate delivery of critical supplies, while an additional $1.22 billion will be sourced through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The USAI funds long-term procurement contracts with defense manufacturers, often requiring months or even years for delivery, according to a report by Reuters.
“This assistance will equip Ukraine with both immediate battlefield capabilities and enduring strategic advantages,” Biden remarked, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s position before the presidential transition.
On the economic front, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed $3.4 billion in budgetary assistance—the final tranche under the 2024 Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act. These funds, administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, are intended to stabilize Ukraine’s economy by supporting essential services, including funding for teachers’ salaries and government employees.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has provided approximately $61.4 billion in military assistance and over $30 billion in budgetary support, according to government records. Biden underscored the strategic importance of continued aid, arguing that Ukraine’s success is vital for both global stability and U.S. national security interests.
The New York Times noted that “the new tranche will be the single largest that the United States has sent to Ukraine since April, when the House approved new aid after a monthslong hold.
Pentagon officials said this month that the Biden administration was unlikely to spend all of the remaining $5.6 billion that Congress has allocated to send weapons and other military help to Ukraine. It is difficult to rush the remaining amount to the battlefield before the Trump administration begins next month, officials said.
The $1.22 billion that the Biden administration is sending from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative does essentially use up the money that remained in that program.“
Russia’s war in Ukraine—now spilling back into Russian territory—has entered its third year. Last week, the White House said that over 1,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded while fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, with some reportedly choosing suicide over surrender.
These significant casualties represent nearly 10% of the North Korean forces deployed to Russia since their arrival in the fall of this year. The announcement marks the latest move in the U.S. strategy to spotlight and condemn the collaboration between Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accusing them of deploying undertrained and poorly equipped troops to the front lines of a foreign war.
Over the summer, Biden pushed for an escalation in the war, allowing Ukrainian forces to attack Russian territory with American missiles.
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How can Biden send money to Ukraine when Congress has the control of the purse strings.. What am I missing here.