Biden Announces $8 Billion in Military Aid for Ukraine, According to Reuters

By Steve Holland and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden announced over $8 billion in military assistance for Ukraine on Thursday, aiming to support Kyiv in its efforts to combat Russian forces, coinciding with a visit from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The aid package includes the initial shipment of a precision-guided glide bomb known as the Joint Standoff Weapon, which has a range of up to 81 miles (130 km). This medium-range missile significantly enhances Ukraine’s capability to strike Russian forces from safer distances.

These precision bombs, designed for deployment from fighter jets, will improve the accuracy of Ukrainian strikes. However, a U.S. official noted that there would be no announcement permitting Ukraine to use U.S. missiles for targets deeper within Russia.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, supporting Ukraine has been a top priority for Biden. In his statement, he said, “That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and additional actions to help Ukraine win this war.”

Most of the new aid, amounting to $5.5 billion, is intended to be allocated before the end of the U.S. fiscal year on Monday, when current funding authority will expire. An additional $2.4 billion will be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which enables the government to procure weapons for Ukraine from manufacturers instead of drawing them from U.S. stockpiles.

This assistance will enhance Ukraine’s air defense systems, unmanned aerial capabilities, and air-to-ground munitions, while bolstering its defense industrial capacity and supporting maintenance needs.

Furthermore, the Biden administration plans to refurbish and supply Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery and more Patriot missiles. The Pentagon has also been instructed to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, with the plan to support training for an additional 18 pilots in the coming year.

Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to Biden and the U.S. Congress for the new military aid package, assuring that Ukraine would utilize it “in the most efficient and transparent manner.” He emphasized the importance of items such as the Patriot battery, drones, and long-range missiles for protecting the Ukrainian people.

To combat sanctions evasion and money laundering by Russia, the U.S. will take steps to disrupt what Biden termed a “global cryptocurrency network,” in collaboration with international partners. He also announced plans to convene a high-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of over 50 countries supporting Ukraine.

Before meeting with Biden, Zelenskiy is scheduled to engage with Democratic and Republican leaders at the Capitol. While Ukraine’s defense has generally received bipartisan support, there are concerns about how many Republican leaders will meet with Zelenskiy, especially amid increasing criticism of his government from some party figures, including Donald Trump.

Trump has recently focused his campaign messages on criticizing Zelenskiy, rejecting a meeting request from the Ukrainian president during his current campaign for the upcoming election. He expressed disapproval of Zelenskiy at a rally, stating, “We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refused to make a deal, Zelenskiy,” and attributed blame for Russia’s invasion to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The visit by Zelenskiy to a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where Biden grew up, has sparked outrage among some congressional Republicans. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into Zelenskiy’s trip, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has called for the firing of Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington for planning the visit. He clarified, however, that this demand was not meant to threaten military aid.