New Weapons for Ukraine as Biden Era Nears End

Just days before the new U. S. President takes office, the Biden administration has announced a fresh round of military aid for Ukraine. The package, worth $500 million, includes a variety of weapons like munitions, drones, and armored vehicles. This marks the 72nd time the U. S. has dipped into its stockpiles to help Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. Since then, the U. S. has pledged over $62. 9 billion to Ukraine, with more funds expected to be used before the change in administration. The U. S. has ramped up support for Ukraine in recent weeks, committing over $2. 2 billion this month alone. Some of this money comes from frozen Russian assets, funneled into a World Bank fund to help Ukraine's economy. The future of such support is uncertain, given the incoming President's criticism of aid to Ukraine and his admiration for Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin. The outgoing U. S. President has made it clear that aid will continue right up until the end of his term. He is set to discuss Ukraine's situation with other leaders of democratic nations in a virtual meeting on Friday. The focus will be on how to support Ukraine as the political landscape in the U. S. shifts.