On the same day that Trump met with Zelensky in Paris, the Biden administration announced $988 million in aid to Ukraine
The Biden administration announced a $988 million aid package to Ukraine on Saturday to ensure it “has the tools it needs to defeat Russian aggression.”
“This administration has made a choice. The bipartisan coalition in Congress has made a choice. The next administration has to make its own choice,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Saturday at the Reagan Defense Forum in California. express. “But, from this library, from this podium, I believe President Reagan will stand with Ukraine, American security, and human freedom.”
A U.S. government press release said the aid package, provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Program, “will provide Ukraine with munitions for rocket systems and unmanned aerial systems.” “The plan also includes support for maintenance and repair programs to help Ukraine reorganize its forces and build and sustain combat capability.”
The news came as President-elect Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday at a ceremony marking the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a devastating fire in 2019.
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The Biden administration announced a $988 million aid package to Ukraine on Saturday to ensure it “has the tools it needs to defeat Russian aggression.” (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
During the campaign, Trump and running mate Vance harshly criticized the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine after Russia invaded the country in 2022. Trump said he would end the war before taking office, but gave no further details.
Vance also suggested earlier this year that the best way to end the war would be for Ukraine to cede Russian-occupied lands and establish a demilitarized zone, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flatly rejected the proposal.
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French President Emmanuel Macron (center) poses with President-elect Donald Trump (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Saturday. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissad)
Recently, Zelensky has said he is more open to war talks and has called for Ukraine to be allowed to join NATO.
The Biden administration has pledged to provide as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump takes office in January.
“In September, the president announced a significant increase in security assistance to Ukraine to put the Ukrainian military in the strongest possible position before he leaves office,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement Monday while announcing a significant increase in security assistance to Ukraine. Provides $725 million in aid.
Secretary Lloyd Austin (Alex Huang/Getty Images)
“Between now and mid-January, we will provide hundreds of thousands of additional artillery rounds, thousands of rockets and other critical capabilities to help Ukraine defend its freedom and independence.”
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “President Biden has committed to ensuring that every dollar we have between now and January 20 will be pushed out.”
Saturday’s announcement marks the government’s 22nd aid package through its Ukraine security assistance program.
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This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the administration’s request for Congress to authorize an additional $24 billion in funding.
“Now is not the time for Joe Biden to make a decision,” Johnson said. “We have a newly elected president and we will wait and follow the instructions of the new commander in chief. So I don’t expect any Ukrainian funds to come out right now.”
