By TARA COPP and MATTHEW LEE, Related Press
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — The U.S. is ready to supply Ukraine an extra $500 million in weapons rapidly pulled from its present stockpiles because the Biden administration works to get Kyiv in a stronger negotiating place earlier than President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace, two U.S. officers mentioned.
The announcement is anticipated throughout Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin’s remaining journey to fulfill with the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, a consortium of about 50 companion nations that Austin introduced collectively months after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 to coordinate weapons assist.
The assembly on Thursday is the twenty fifth and doubtlessly final gathering of the U.S.-led group, because the collaborating nations wait to see whether or not it will likely be continued beneath Trump.
“Our focus shall be on sustaining momentum, delivering outcomes, and sending a transparent message: The worldwide neighborhood stands resolute in its assist for Ukraine,” Austin instructed reporters touring with him.
The weapons are funded by presidential drawdown authority, that means they are often pulled immediately from U.S. stockpiles. A senior protection official who briefed reporters touring with Austin mentioned the objective was to get these munitions into Ukraine earlier than the top of the month.
The officers spoke on the situation of anonymity to supply particulars not but publicly introduced.
To this point the U.S. has supplied Ukraine about $66.5 billion in weapons help since Russia invaded practically three years in the past.
There’s now rather less than $4 billion remaining in congressionally approved funding for Ukraine and far of that’s anticipated to roll over to the Trump administration to find out whether or not to proceed the weapons assist.
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