WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden announced Monday that the United States will provide nearly $6 billion in additional military and financial assistance to Ukraine, marking one of his final acts in office to bolster Kyiv’s defense against Russian aggression before President-elect Donald Trump takes power.
The package includes $2.5 billion in security aid and $3.4 billion in budgetary assistance, according to the White House and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism ahead of the announcement, calling the support “crucial to stabilizing the front lines” and saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers as the war approaches its third year.
Biden said the United States will “continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war” for the remainder of his term. The security assistance includes $1.25 billion in military aid from U.S. stockpiles and $1.22 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which procures equipment from defense contractors and international partners.
While immediate support from U.S. stockpiles will bolster Ukraine’s defenses in the short term, the USAI package may take months or years to reach the battlefield. Meanwhile, Kyiv faces intensifying Russian attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets, with Zelensky emphasizing the need to maintain strong international support.
Recent developments have also revealed the presence of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces. White House spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that North Korea has faced significant casualties, with 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the past week alone in Russia’s Kursk region.
The U.S. delivers a major aid pac