Categories: World

Biden White House to send $1.25 billion in weapon aid to Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands at the Ukraine Compact meeting during the 75th NATO Summit in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on July 11, 2024. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Final aid push before Trump transition

The Biden administration is preparing to deliver a $1.25 billion military aid package to Ukraine, aiming to strengthen its defense capabilities against Russian aggression before the Trump administration takes office in January.

Munitions to bolster air defenses

The package includes munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), the HAWK air defense system, Stinger missiles, and artillery rounds. Officials are expected to announce the aid on Monday, following a $988 million package earlier this month.

Bipartisan support and Reagan comparison

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized bipartisan support for Ukraine, saying, “President Reagan would have stood on the side of Ukraine, American security, and human freedom.” The Biden administration has prioritized aid delivery before the change in leadership.

FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – NOVEMBER 06: Senator JD Vance (3rd R) and Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (2nd L) shake hands during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, on November 06, 2024. (Photo by Brendan Gutenschwager/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Trump and Vance were critical of aid strategy

President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance criticized the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine during their campaign. Trump claimed he could end the war without providing specifics, while Vance proposed Ukraine cede seized land to Russia, a suggestion rejected by President Zelenskyy.

Congress blocks additional funding

House Speaker Mike Johnson recently rejected a $24 billion aid request, stating, “We’re going to wait and take the new commander in chief’s direction on all that.”

BERLIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 18: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (R) and U.S. President Joe Biden arrive to give statements to the media, during which they announced an aid package for Ukraine, at the Chancellery on October 18, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Biden is visiting Berlin to meet with Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

22nd aid package highlights U.S. commitment

This marks the administration’s 22nd Ukraine aid package through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, reinforcing the U.S.’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.