Sec. Austin to announce billions in Ukraine military aid in Germany

9 hrs ago

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Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

The Biden administration is preparing what could be one of its final major weapons packages for Ukraine. This comes as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin heads to Germany this week for a critical meeting with international allies.

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Austin is expected to announce the aid during the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base on Thursday, Jan. 9. It remains unclear whether the coalition, established under Austin’s leadership, will continue under the incoming Trump administration.

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Officials anticipate the new package will total several billion dollars and will be sourced from existing U.S. military stockpiles for rapid delivery. The aid is expected to include critical equipment such as air defense systems, artillery and armored vehicles.

While substantial, the package will not deplete the approximately $4 billion remaining in congressionally authorized funding for Ukraine. Defense officials have indicated that “more than a couple of billion dollars” will likely be left for the incoming administration to allocate as it deems appropriate.

In recent weeks, the Biden administration has expedited nearly $6 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently announced $3.4 billion in economic support to sustain Ukraine’s government operations, schools and emergency services, alongside $2.5 billion in security assistance to address immediate defense needs.

Since 2022, the U.S. has provided $66 billion of the $126 billion in total aid contributed by international allies. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, comprising 50 nations, has played a pivotal role in coordinating this support.

Established by Austin after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the group has focused on delivering training, equipment and financial assistance to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.

As the conflict approaches its third year, both Ukraine and Russia are seeking strategic gains before the U.S. presidential transition on Jan. 20. Ukraine continues to face relentless missile strikes and aerial attacks from Russia, while simultaneously launching a second offensive in the Kursk region.

Transition discussions between the Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team have addressed the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine. While Trump has pledged to end the war, he has acknowledged that achieving such a goal will likely be complex.

Tags: Lloyd Austin, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, U.S. Congress, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry

[ryan robertson]

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING WHAT MAY BE ITS FINAL WEAPONS PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE THE PACKAGE DURING HIS VISIT TO RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY THURSDAY–THAT’S WHERE THE 25TH MEETING OF THE UKRAINE DEFENSE CONTACT GROUP IS TAKING PLACE. IT’S UNCLEAR IF THE GROUP WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW PACKAGE, EXPECTED TO TOTAL SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS, WILL DRAW FROM EXISTING U.S. MILITARY STOCKPILES AND INCLUDE CRITICAL ITEMS LIKE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS, ARTILLERY, AND ARMORED VEHICLES.

THE PACKAGE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL, ALTHOUGH IT WILL LIKELY NOT EXHAUST THE APPROXIMATELY $4 BILLION REMAINING IN CONGRESSIONALLY AUTHORIZED FUNDING FOR UKRAINE. IT’S EXPECTED MORE THAN A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOCATE AS IT SEES FIT.

IN RECENT WEEKS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RUSHED TO SEND MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID WORTH NEARLY $6 BILLION. TREASURY SECRETARY JANET YELLEN ANNOUNCED $3.4 BILLION IN ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO HELP FUND UKRAINE’S GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, AND FIRST RESPONDERS. AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 BILLION IS BEING ALLOCATED FOR SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS UKRAINE’S IMMEDIATE DEFENSE NEEDS.

SINCE 2022, THE U.S. PROVIDED UKRAINE WITH $66 BILLION OF THE $126 BILLION IN TOTAL AID CONTRIBUTED BY PARTNER NATIONS. THE 50 NATIONS MAKING UP THE UKRAINE DEFENSE CONTACT GROUP ALL PLAY A PART IN DISTRIBUTING THOSE FUNDS, EQUIPMENT AND TRAININGS. THE GROUP WAS ORGANIZED BY SECRETARY AUSTIN AFTER RUSSIA INVADED UKRAINE. THE SECDEF SAYS THE GROUP HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONALLY COORDINATED SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

THE CONFLICT, NOW NEARING ITS THIRD YEAR, REMAINS DYNAMIC AS BOTH SIDES SEEK STRATEGIC ADVANTAGES BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP TAKES OFFICE LATER THIS MONTH. UKRAINE CONTINUES TO FACE INTENSE MISSILE STRIKES AND AERIAL ATTACKS FROM RUSSIA – WHILE ALSO LAUNCHING A SECOND OFFENSIVE IN THE KURSK REGION.

TRANSITION DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S TEAM INCLUDED THE FUTURE OF U.S. AID TO UKRAINE. WHILE TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO END THE WAR, HE HAS SINCE ACKNOWLEDGED ACHIEVING THAT GOAL WILL BE COMPLEX.

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