The Daily Populous Monday December 9th, 2024 night edition
Authored by kyivindependent.com and submitted by AdSpecialist6598

This audio is created with AI assistance

The United States will deliver a $988 million military package to Ukraine, the Pentagon announced on Dec. 7.

The latest aid package comes as the Biden administration rushes to deliver the remaining approximately $5 billion in military aid to Ukraine ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, amid concerns that a future Trump administration would halt weapons shipments before they reach Kyiv.

Two administration officials told Politico on Nov. 6 that the White House plans to expedite the weapons delivery ahead of the January inauguration, as Trump has previously said he would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia.

The aid package includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as new drone deliveries.

"This package also includes support for maintenance and repair programs to help Ukraine reconstitute its forces and build and sustain combat power," the Pentagon said in a statement. The equipment and spare parts it provides will be used to maintain and repair artillery systems, tanks, and armored vehicles.

The latest aid package will be pulled through the remaining $2 billion in funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — a Pentagon-led program for supplying arms to Ukraine through contracts with U.S. defense companies.

The moves marks a change as to how the Biden administration has recently delivered its weaponry to Ukraine. In recent months, U.S. President Joe Biden has heavily relied on Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the U.S. to transfer weapons from existing stockpiles to allies in urgent situations.

Previous PDA announcements have typically ranged between $125 million and $250 million. With an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion in PDA funding still authorized by Congress, Biden is expected to allocate more aid to Ukraine before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

The U.S. announced its last $725 million weapons package to Ukraine on Dec. 2, which includes Stinger missiles, HIMARS, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, drones, and landmines, among other equipment.

Anxiety over the possible withdrawal of U.S. aid comes as Ukraine braces itself for another grueling winter of Russian infrastructure attacks. Meanwhile, North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia to aid Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Menethea on December 8th, 2024 at 16:50 UTC »

The point is, that‘s it - this comes out of the funds Congress already approved. The Pentagon has already admitted it can’t do much more in the time left before inauguration. The latest White House request for cash assistance was ignored by Congress

EternalUndyingLorv on December 8th, 2024 at 15:15 UTC »

The amount of people that still thinks it's actual money is staggering. The US education system is in shambles.

alwaysfatigued8787 on December 8th, 2024 at 14:54 UTC »

I feel like every time I see an announcement from the U.S., the dollar amount of the aid package goes down.