US to announce final Ukraine security assistance package

The Biden administration is set to unveil its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package in the coming days, drawing on the last remaining funds allocated to procure weapons for Ukraine.

According to sources familiar with the matter, valued at approximately $1.2 billion, the package will reportedly include air defence interceptors and artillery munitions, though the precise contents will only be confirmed at the official announcement, Caliber.Az reports, citing exclusive material by Reuters.

Unlike direct withdrawals from US military stockpiles, the USAI program funds the purchase of equipment from defence contractors or international partners, a process that can take months or even years to deliver to the battlefield.

This package could mark one of the last significant US military aid efforts for Ukraine under the Biden administration as Kyiv braces for the potential policy shifts that may follow the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has publicly criticized military aid to Ukraine and vowed to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the US has committed $175 billion in aid to Kyiv, including $61.4 billion in security assistance. Approximately half of that assistance has been distributed through the USAI program, with the remainder drawn from existing US military stockpiles via presidential drawdown authority.

Currently, $5.6 billion remains available through drawdown authority, which allows the president to rapidly deploy equipment already in stock.

The upcoming announcement underscores uncertainty about the future of US support for Ukraine. Trump and several Republican lawmakers, who will soon control both chambers of Congress, have questioned the level of US involvement in the conflict, urging European allies to take on more financial responsibility. This shift has raised concerns among Ukraine's advocates in Washington about sustained US assistance under the Trump administration.

The USAI program has provided significant opportunities for US defence contractors. Companies like L3Harris Technologies, which delivered its first Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment (VAMPIRE) counter-drone systems within a year of receiving USAI funding, have seen increased demand for their products.

While the State Department and Pentagon have declined to comment on the forthcoming package, it is clear the program has bolstered production pipelines for advanced weaponry, ensuring long-term revenue streams for the defence industry.

With the final USAI funds now being allocated, the US faces critical questions about the future of its military support to Ukraine. While Congress has historically backed robust aid to Kyiv, Trump’s campaign rhetoric and shifting Republican priorities may test the bipartisan consensus on Ukraine aid, leaving the Biden administration’s final package as a potential capstone to its military assistance efforts.

By Tamilla Hasanova