The Biden administration is rushing military equipment to Ukraine in a last-ditch effort to shore up the country’s defenses against Russian invasion before Donald Trump assumes the U.S. presidency in January.
The recently announced $725 million in aid includes Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, anti-drone weapons, artillery shells and Himars long-range rocket ammunition, and anti-armor missiles, as well as spare parts and other assistance to repair damaged equipment from the US. shares, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The new arms shipments come as Ukraine desperately tries to stabilize its frontlines, both in the east of the country, where Russia has made major progress towards the crucial logistics city of Pokrovsk, and in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian Armed Forces are located. bracing for an attack by Russian and North Korean forces.
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Trump has threatened to cut off all aid to Ukraine after he assumes the presidency next month, leading the White House to try to exhaust the remaining $7 billion approved by Congress before the end of Biden’s term pay. The aid announced this week is subject to presidential drawdown authority from existing Pentagon stock.
The White House has said the increase in security assistance is intended to “put Ukraine’s armed forces in the strongest possible position.” [Biden] leave office”. Trump and his top surrogates have said he wants to prepare for peace talks soon after taking office, including by withholding military aid to Ukraine to force Kiev to the table.
The package also includes anti-personnel mines recently approved for use by the Biden administration in what the White House called a “limited exception to the administration’s ongoing landmine policy” to “help Ukraine stabilize its lines in the east.”
“The president has directed the Department of Defense to quickly deliver the equipment to Ukraine – to ensure Ukraine has the equipment it needs to defend itself,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. a statement. “Between now and mid-January, we will deliver hundreds of thousands of additional artillery rounds, thousands of additional missiles and other critical capabilities to help Ukraine defend its freedom and independence.”
Biden also approved Atacm missile strikes on Russia and rescinded a ban on U.S. contractors traveling to Ukraine to repair F-16 fighter jets, tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles supplied to the Ukrainians for the country’s war effort.
