The United States has announced a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth $988 million, as Washington works to deliver aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
Trump’s election victory raised concerns about the future of U.S. support for Ukraine, creating a narrow window for the U.S. to provide the billions of dollars in aid already authorized before his inauguration next month.
The new package includes drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks, and armored vehicles, according to a statement from the Pentagon.
The aid will be funded through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which purchases military equipment from defense partners or manufacturers, rather than using U.S. military stocks, meaning the aid will not arrive immediately on the battlefield.
This new assistance follows a $725 million package announced earlier this week, which included a second shipment of landmines, as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons.
The outgoing U.S. administration is rushing to send as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump, who has voiced criticism of U.S. support for Kyiv and claimed he could secure a ceasefire within hours, takes office.
Trump’s remarks have sparked concerns in both Kyiv and Europe about the future of American aid and Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian aggression without continued U.S. support.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking on Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, warned of severe consequences if the U.S. fails to continue opposing Russia’s actions.
“We can continue to stand up to the Kremlin, or we can let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin have his way — and condemn our children and grandchildren to live in a world of chaos and conflict,” Austin said.
He emphasized the importance of allies, noting, “America is weaker when it stands alone. And America is smaller when it stands apart. There is no such thing as a safe retreat from today’s interwoven world.”
