US Announces Additional $5.9 Billion in Ukraine Military, Budget Support

A firefighter works at the site of residential buildings hit by a Russian drone strike, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 25, 2024. Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

The United States on Monday announced nearly $6 billion in additional military and direct budgetary support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.

The announcement was made just weeks before President Joe Biden’s term concludes and President-elect Donald Trump’s second term begins.

Biden confirmed on Monday that the latest package includes $2.5 billion in security assistance, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said $3.4 billion in direct budget support is being made available to the country.

“The Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles which will strengthen Ukraine’s hand as it heads into the winter,” Biden said in a Dec. 30 statement. “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 security allocation features $1.25 billion drawn from U.S. Department of Defense stockpiles—described as “previous drawdowns” in a Dec. 30 statement from the U.S. Department of State—and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package. Under the USAI, military equipment is procured directly from the defense industry or partner nations rather than from existing U.S. inventory, potentially prolonging the timeframe for delivery.

Biden indicated that these amounts represent funds already appropriated earlier in the year and are now being allocated in full.

“As I committed earlier this year, the Department of Defense has now allocated all remaining USAI funds appropriated by Congress in the supplemental that I signed in April, and my Administration is fully utilizing the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine,” he said. “I’ve directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible—including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a separate statement, said that the $1.25 billion portion includes counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, artillery shells for both 155 mm and 105 mm calibers, and anti-armor weaponry such as Javelins and TOW missiles. Blinken said that the United States, alongside more than 50 nations, remains committed to ensuring Ukraine “has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.”

Yellen’s announcement focused on direct budget support, which she described as vital for maintaining critical functions within Ukraine’s government during the winter months.

“Our direct budget support to Ukraine arrives at a critical time as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure,” Yellen said. “Economic assistance from the United States and our allies is crucial for Ukraine’s ability to defend its sovereignty and achieve a just peace.”

She said that these funds also come with conditions, including reforms aimed at strengthening law enforcement, increasing transparency, and bolstering anti-corruption practices. Yellen said that the $3.4 billion in budgetary support is the “final disbursement of funds appropriated under the bipartisan Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024.”

“We must not retreat in this effort,” Yellen said. “Together with the security assistance America is providing Ukraine and Treasury’s actions to further tighten sanctions on Russia’s war machine, we will continue to do everything in our power to position Ukraine to achieve a just peace.”

While the United States has provided tens of billions in overall support to Ukraine since February 2022, the future trajectory of U.S. aid could shift under the incoming Trump administration, which has previously signaled reservations about the scale of U.S. involvement.

Reuters contributed to this report.