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Biden to Announce Final $500 Million Ukraine Aid on Jan. 9 at Austin's Last Defense Meeting

Jan 8, 2025, 05:06 PM

The Biden administration is set to announce a final military aid package of $500 million to Ukraine. The announcement is expected on January 9, during Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to Germany for the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base, which will be Austin's last as Secretary of Defense. The package aims to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities through 2027, with most of the pledged weapons delivered before President Donald Trump takes office. Approximately $3.8 billion in available funds under the Presidential Drawdown Authority will remain unused, despite President Biden's earlier promise to use every last cent, bringing total U.S. security assistance under Biden to about $65 billion. The remaining funds will be available to President Trump upon his inauguration. The aid will be drawn from existing stockpiles and will not account for the full $4 billion approved by Congress for Kyiv. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to attend the meeting.