US extends $1 billion in army help to Ukraine forward of Trump inauguration – Occasions of India

The US will present almost USD 1 billion in long-term weapons help to Ukraine, defence secretary Lloyd Austin introduced on Saturday.
The Biden administration is expediting the spending of remaining congressionally permitted funds to help Kyiv earlier than President-elect Donald Trump assumes workplace. The brand new package deal contains drones and HIMARS munitions, funded by way of the Ukraine Safety Help Initiative for future army capabilities.
A separate USD 725 million army help package deal, introduced on Monday, includes counter-drone methods and HIMARS munitions from Pentagon stockpiles for speedy battlefield deployment. Since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, US army help to Ukraine has exceeded USD 62 billion.
Austin acknowledged the upcoming transition, stating “The baton will quickly be handed”. Ukraine at the moment faces elevated Russian aggression, together with North Korean troops within the Kursk area and common strikes on civilian infrastructure utilizing intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
“The engine of our efforts has been the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, which first met in April 2022 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. And the Contact Group has helped be certain that Ukraine has what it must defend itself—and to forge a future drive to discourage extra Russian aggression,” he mentioned.
“And I’ve convened the Contact Group 24 instances now. Its different members have dedicated greater than $57 billion in direct safety help to Ukraine. And as a share of GDP, greater than a dozen Contact Group members now present extra safety help to Ukraine than the US does. And collectively, we’ve got helped Ukraine survive an all-out assault by the biggest army in Europe,” he added.
The Biden administration is utilising all remaining funds from a current international help invoice to strengthen Ukraine’s place. On the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library gathering, Austin addressed defence officers and lawmakers, discussing the administration’s dedication to Ukraine.
In the meantime, US President-elect Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and French President Macron in Paris throughout Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening. European leaders are looking for Trump’s continued help for Ukraine, regardless of his earlier admiration for Putin and criticism of US help.