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| From left: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attend a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) |
The Biden administration announced a $500 million military aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin unveiled the package during his final meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Both leaders used the occasion to call on the incoming Trump administration to sustain U.S. support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
“If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will only grow,” Austin cautioned during the 25th meeting of the multinational Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 nations that has collectively provided $122 billion in aid to Kyiv.
“If autocrats believe democracies will lose their nerve, abandon their interests, and compromise their principles, we will only see more land grabs,” Austin warned. “If tyrants learn that aggression pays, we’ll invite more chaos, conflict, and war.”
Details of the Package
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| Austin announced a new $500 million security package for Ukraine. (Marijan Murat/dpa via AP) |
The $500 million security package includes:
- Missiles for fighter jets
- Support equipment for F-16 aircraft
- Armored bridging systems
- Small arms and ammunition
- Spare parts and communications gear
This aid package is funded through the presidential drawdown authority (PDA), which allows the transfer of weapons from U.S. stockpiles for rapid delivery. It marks the Biden administration’s 74th drawdown of U.S. defense inventory for Ukraine since August 2021.
Remaining Funding and Future Aid
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| The ruins of the city of Toretsk are in the Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, on December 19, 2024. (Photo by Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images) |
With this announcement, approximately $3.85 billion remains in the PDA fund for future arms shipments to Ukraine. If no additional packages are announced by the Biden administration, these funds will be available for President-elect Trump to allocate as he sees fit.
Zelenskyy’s Plea for Continued Support
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy urged the incoming administration to continue backing Ukraine’s defensive war, highlighting the progress made through international coalitions.
“We’ve come so far that it would be unthinkable to abandon this effort now,” Zelenskyy stated. “No matter the circumstances, every nation deserves assurance that its sovereignty and existence will not be erased.”
The Broader Context
The war in Ukraine has underscored the inadequacies of global stockpiles for a large-scale conventional conflict. Coalition nations, including the U.S., have significantly increased weapons production in response.
Since the war began in February 2022, the U.S. has committed approximately $66 billion to Ukraine, delivering 80-90% of that total already.
Austin’s Final Appeal
“Retreat will only embolden imperial aggression,” Austin said. “If we falter now, Putin will push further and strike harder. Ukraine’s survival is at stake—and so is the security of Europe, the United States, and the global order.”