The Biden administration on Saturday introduced a $988 million support bundle to Ukraine to make sure it “has the instruments it must prevail in its struggle towards Russian aggression.”
“This administration has made its selection. And so has a bipartisan coalition in Congress. The subsequent administration should make its personal selection,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated Saturday on the Reagan National Defense Forum in California. “But, from this library, from this podium, I’m assured that President Reagan would have stood on the facet of Ukraine, American safety and human freedom.”
The support bundle is supplied by way of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and “will present Ukraine with munitions for rocket techniques and unmanned aerial techniques,” a launch from the administration stated. “This bundle additionally contains assist for upkeep and restore packages to assist Ukraine reconstitute its forces and construct and maintain fight energy.”
The announcement got here as President-elect Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whereas at a ceremony commemorating the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday after a devastating hearth there in 2019.
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The Biden administration on Saturday introduced a $988 million support bundle to Ukraine to make sure it “has the instruments it must prevail in its struggle towards Russian aggression.” (Andrew Cabalero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Images)
During the marketing campaign, Trump and operating mate JD Vance closely criticized the Biden administration’s assist for Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, and Trump stated he would finish the conflict earlier than even getting into workplace with out providing additional particulars.
Vance additionally recommended earlier this 12 months that the easiest way to finish the conflict was for Ukraine to cede the land Russia has seized and for a demilitarized zone to be established, a proposal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flatly rejected.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, middle, poses with President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the Élysée Palace in Paris Saturday. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)
Recently, Zelenskyy has stated he’s extra open to negotiations within the conflict and has known as for Ukraine to be allowed to hitch NATO.
The Biden administration has dedicated to giving Ukraine as a lot support as attainable earlier than Trump takes workplace in January.
“In September, the president introduced a surge in safety help for Ukraine to place Ukrainian forces within the strongest attainable place earlier than he leaves workplace,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated in an announcement Monday while announcing $725 million in support to Ukraine.
Secretary Lloyd Austin (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“Between now and mid-January, we are going to ship tons of of hundreds of extra artillery rounds, hundreds of extra rockets and different vital capabilities to assist Ukraine defend its freedom and independence.”
Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, “President Biden has dedicated to creating positive that each greenback we have now at our disposal might be pushed out the door between now and Jan. 20.”
Saturday’s announcement marks the administration’s twenty second support bundle by way of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
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This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a request by the administration for Congress to authorize $24 billion in extra funding.
“It will not be the place of Joe Biden to make that call now,” Johnson stated. “We have a newly elected president, and we’re going to attend and take the brand new commander in chief’s route on all that. So, I don’t anticipate any Ukraine funding to return up now.”
