WASHINGTON — While Democrats and Republicans are fighting each other over funding the local government, President Joe Biden is writing another check to Ukraine.
This is according to Reuters.
The United States is expected to unveil a $1.2 billion security assistance package for Ukraine in the coming days, marking the final allocation of funds under President Joe Biden’s administration for new weapons purchases for Kyiv, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The package, which includes air defense systems and artillery ammunition, will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Unlike equipment drawn directly from existing U.S. military stocks, USAI provides for the purchase of weapons from defense contractors or allied partners, which could delay delivery to Ukraine by months or even years.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, the U.S. has committed $61.4 billion in security aid to Ukraine, part of a larger $175 billion in overall assistance. Roughly half of the military aid has come through USAI, while the rest has been drawn from U.S. stocks via presidential drawdown authority. Current reports indicate $5.6 billion remains available for drawdowns.
Neither the State Department nor the Pentagon has commented on the forthcoming package, adhering to a policy of withholding details until official announcements are made. Sources have stated the exact contents of the new package will be disclosed in the coming days.
This follows a December 13 announcement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken of a separate $500 million package and reflects the administration’s continued effort to bolster Ukraine’s defenses as the conflict with Russia persists into 2025.