Biden announces $2.5B in support for Ukraine before leaving office News
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Biden announces $2.5B in support for Ukraine before leaving office

US President Joe Biden announced USD $2.5 billion in aid to Ukraine on Sunday, stating that the package is intended to help Ukraine “prevail” in its nearly three-year war with Russia. The announcement comes just weeks before Biden’s departure from office in January.

President Biden cited “Russian aggression” in his announcement, stating that the assistance would help Ukraine defend itself from its neighboring state. Biden added: “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The aid includes a $1.25 billion “drawdown package” for the Ukrainian military and an additional $1.25 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. President Biden mentioned the need to provide Ukraine with support as soon as possible, hinting at his impending departure from office and the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.

The announcement comes one day after a decision by the United Kingdom to increase funding for the prosecution of Russian war crimes against Ukraine. The UN has documented and acknowledged thousands of such crimes over the past since 2022.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and both countries have since experienced an outbreak of death and carnage. In November 2024, Ukraine noted over 10,000 claims had been submitted for the damage or destruction of residential housing. Russia has also been accused of forcibly exporting Ukrainian children to Russia and forcing them to live with Russian families.

Biden’s aid package comes at a particularly perilous time for Ukraine following Russia’s renewed attacks. President-elect Donald Trump, who is known for his close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently expressed that Ukraine using US missiles to target Russia was “crazy.” Despite Trump’s insistence he can end the war between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently revealed that the Russian government was “unsatisfied” with Trump’s proposed peace plans. He noted, however, that Putin had yet to receive any official peace proposal from the US government.

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