(CLO) The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden will soon announce the next $1.25 billion in military aid to Ukraine, according to Western sources.
A formal announcement is expected on Monday, according to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, as the Biden administration seeks to provide maximum support to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20 next year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
The aid package includes: NASAMS and HAWK advanced air defense systems, Stinger missiles, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells. Including this new aid package, the US has provided a total of more than $64 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the war began.
However, a senior US Defense Department official said the Pentagon may not send out the remaining $5.6 billion in military aid before Mr. Trump takes office. After the $1.25 billion aid package, the remaining amount will drop to about $4.35 billion.
There is also about $1.2 billion left in the Ukraine security assistance program to pay for long-term arms contracts, but those contracts will take at least a year or more to deliver. The Biden administration plans to disburse the entire amount by the end of 2024.
President Biden is a close ally of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the future of US-Ukraine relations could change with Trump taking office.
Mr Trump has claimed that if he were to negotiate directly with Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky, the war would be over “within 24 hours”. However, many US and European leaders are concerned that any deal brokered by Mr Trump could be detrimental to Ukraine. They are also concerned that Mr Trump will not allocate all the military aid that the US Congress has approved.
Hong Hanh (according to NPR, ABC, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chinh-quyen-ong-biden-sap-vien-tro-them-goi-vu-khi-125-ty-usd-cho-ukraine-post327924.html
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