On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced an additional $500 million in military aid for Ukraine as devastating wildfires ravage Los Angeles, leaving thousands displaced and homes destroyed.
The Associated Press reports that the Biden administration is rushing to provide Ukraine with $500 million worth of weapons drawn from existing U.S. stockpiles.
According to U.S. officials, this move aims to bolster Kyiv’s position ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to announce the package during his final meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of approximately 50 partner nations formed to coordinate military support for Ukraine.
This gathering, the 25th since the group’s inception, may be its last, as the future of such efforts under Trump remains uncertain.
This announcement comes on the heels of a $1.25 billion weapons package Biden approved last month while vacationing in St. Croix.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has contributed nearly $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, with much of it allocated to military support.
Critics have voiced concerns about the administration’s priorities, particularly as Americans grapple with economic hardship, inflation, and a worsening