White House sending Ukraine fresh batches of weapons in last months of Biden’s term

The Defense Department on Monday announced that it is providing Ukraine with about $725 million in weapons and other military hardware taken from U.S. stockpiles in the latest security assistance package to help the country meet its “critical security and defense needs.”

The U.S. has provided Ukraine with about $62 billion in military assistance since the start of the Biden administration, including about $61.4 billion since Russia launched its invasion of its smaller neighbor in February 2022.

Monday’s announcement marks the 71st time the White House has used the Presidential Drawdown Authority to support Ukraine’s military needs since the start of the Biden administration. It will provide Kyiv with sufficient capabilities to meet its most urgent battlefield needs, U.S. officials said, at a time when Russian forces have been gaining ground in the country’s east and south.

But the administration has also been working overtime to provide new tranches of aid before President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed repeated skepticism about the levels of American support for Ukraine in the war, takes office in late January.

The security assistance package includes ammunition for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, [NASAMS] and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems [HIMARS]; 105mm and 155mm artillery rounds; Stinger missiles; Javeline and AT-4 anti-armor systems; and landmines.

Also included are small arms and ammunition, demolition equipment, spare parts, training and transportation, Pentagon officials said.

Defense Department officials said Monday they would continue to work with NATO and dozens of allies in support of Kyiv.