Weeks before Trump returns, US sends US$5.9 billion in aid to Ukraine

The United States on Monday announced nearly US$6 billion in additional military and budget assistance for Ukraine as President Joe Biden uses his final weeks in office to surge aid to Kyiv before president-elect Donald Trump takes power.

Biden announced US$2.5 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States has made available US$3.4 billion in additional budget aid to Ukraine, giving the war-torn country critical resources amid intensifying Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

“At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office,” Biden said in a statement.

Biden’s announcement includes US$1.25 billion in military aid drawn from US stockpiles and a US$1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package, the final USAI package of Biden’s time in office.