Biden Administration Squeezes in 'Significant New Military Assistance for Ukraine' Before Trump Takes Over

The Biden administration announced on Monday a new military aid package worth $725 million for Ukraine, as part of ongoing efforts to support the country in its defense against Russian aggression.

“This significant package of urgently needed weapons and equipment for our Ukrainian partners comes as part of the surge in security assistance that President Biden announced on September 26,” the State Department said in a press release. The announcement referred to the aid as “significant new military assistance for Ukraine.” During the September announcement, President Joe Biden pledged to deliver all approved aid to Ukraine before the end of his term, according to a White House statement.

Notably, President-elect Donald Trump has been a frequent critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine.

This latest aid package utilizes Biden’s Presidential Drawdown Authority, allowing weapons already in U.S. military stockpiles to be sent directly to Ukraine. According to the State Department, the package includes:

• Stinger missiles
• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) munitions
• Ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems)
• 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition
• Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
• Non-persistent antipersonnel landmines
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems
• Tube-launched, Optically guided, Wire-tracked (TOW) missiles
• Rifles, ammunition, and parts for existing equipment.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has provided approximately $61.4 billion in aid, according to The Washington Times. This marks the 71st time the Presidential Drawdown Authority has been used to deliver weapons to Ukraine.

White House spokesperson John Kirby highlighted the importance of this assistance last week, emphasizing the role of manpower in Ukraine's efforts. “We’re absolutely going to keep sending Ukraine weapons and equipment. We know that’s vital. But so, too, is manpower at this point,” Kirby said, according to The Washington Post. “In fact, we believe manpower is the most vital need they have. So we’re also ready to ramp up our training capacity if they take appropriate steps to fill out their ranks.”

To address these needs, the Biden administration has urged Ukraine to consider lowering its draft age from 25 to 18.

A senior administration official noted that while Ukraine had previously faced a munitions shortage, the situation has improved significantly since Congress approved $61 billion in aid. However, the official acknowledged a critical issue with Ukraine’s manpower. “The munitions gap may not be completely closed between Ukraine and Russia, but it’s gotten a whole lot better. But on the manpower side, it’s just a question of math and physics,” the official said.

“The most decisive factor on the battlefield today is Ukrainian soldiers willing to fight to stabilize the front lines,” the official added.

While Ukraine faces challenges mobilizing and training enough troops to replace battlefield losses, concerns are growing within the U.S. about the potential impact of these aid shipments on American military readiness.

One senior U.S. defense official expressed worries about the strain on the military’s transportation capabilities. “We have been looking at what would the options be … if we are directed to make that acceleration happen, and what the cost would be to other missions around the world,” the official said.

As the Biden administration races to deliver aid to Ukraine, balancing these demands with broader U.S. defense priorities remains a pressing challenge.