The Biden administration appears to be making a last-minute dash to funnel as much military aid as possible to Ukraine before the clock runs out on its tenure. Reports indicate the U.S. is gearing up to announce a hefty $1.25 billion military assistance package for Kyiv, a move timed just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. Critics might see this as a desperate attempt to cement Biden’s legacy on Ukraine, while others are raising eyebrows at the sheer scale of the spending as the administration enters its twilight days.
The aid package reportedly includes munitions for advanced defense systems like the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system, as well as Stinger missiles and artillery rounds. It’s a sizable contribution, seemingly aimed at shoring up Ukraine’s defenses against an increasingly aggressive Russian assault on its power infrastructure. While Ukraine claims success in intercepting many of these attacks, the situation on the ground remains dire, with fierce fighting near the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has apparently enlisted thousands of North Korean troops to assist its efforts.
This rush to send military aid raises questions about what’s driving the urgency. Defense officials have openly acknowledged that the Pentagon might not manage to exhaust the remaining $5.6 billion in Congress-approved military stock transfers before Trump takes office. The incoming administration has signaled a different approach, with Trump hinting at prioritizing negotiated settlements over endless weapon shipments. European allies and Washington insiders fret that this could result in a deal less favorable to Ukraine, given Trump’s often controversial rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These concerns add a layer of urgency to Biden’s final push to arm Ukraine.
The new aid package will tap into presidential drawdown authority, allowing the Pentagon to send weapons straight from its stockpiles. Even so, officials admit this move will still leave about $4.35 billion in drawdown funds unspent, creating an awkward handoff to the Trump administration. Additionally, roughly $1.2 billion remains in the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, earmarked for longer-term weapons contracts. The administration appears keen to allocate this money before year’s end, seemingly to tie the hands of the incoming leadership.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has sent over $64 billion in military aid, a staggering figure that underscores the scale of American involvement. Whether this latest package bolsters Ukraine’s position or creates more friction for Trump’s plans remains to be seen. For now, the Biden administration seems intent on leaving its mark, even if it means emptying the Pentagon’s shelves in the process. As this eleventh-hour spending spree unfolds, the only certainty is that debates over America’s role in the conflict are far from over.
