US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin Photo: Maya Alleruzzo
The United States is preparing a new $500 million military aid package for Ukraine. The official announcement is scheduled for a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defence to be held on Thursday, 9 January, in the Ramstein format. This was reported by the Associated Press, citing its own sources.
What does the assistance package include?
The weapons are funded through the Presidential Drawdown Authority. This means that it will be transferred directly from the Pentagon’s stockpile, which will speed up delivery.
A senior US official said that the aid is expected to be delivered to Ukraine by the end of January.
This initiative demonstrates Washington’s continued support for Ukraine amid the war with Russia and the Ukrainian army’s preparation for new challenges on the battlefield.
Lloyd Austin’s last visit
The announcement is expected to be made during the visit of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin to the Ramstein meeting. This is likely to be his last trip in office, giving the announcement additional symbolic weight.
The Ramstein format, which brings together more than 50 countries, remains a key mechanism for coordinating military assistance to Ukraine. The meeting will also address issues of strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities in the long term.
Why is this important?
The transfer of weapons from the Pentagon’s warehouses avoids lengthy procurement procedures and speeds up support for the Ukrainian military. This approach has been used many times to provide Ukraine with artillery, ammunition and air defence systems.
The United States remains Ukraine’s largest partner in the defence sector, and this aid package will be another step in strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.
