WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI.
Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and that he seeks to fully use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.
“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”
In addition to the weapons support, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced Monday that the U.S. is also providing $3.4 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine to help pay for critical government services during its ongoing fight against Russia. The money will pay salaries for civilian government and school employees, healthcare workers and first responders.
The new military aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine.
The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position possible before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump's talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress.
The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-to-ground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.
Including Monday's announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.
A Ukrainian serviceman aka Vovchok of 3rd assault brigade throws gunpowder into a fire during memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
President Joe Biden speaks about the death of former President Jimmy Carter Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, at the Company House Hotel in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — De’Aaron Fox scored 35 points and the Sacramento Kings closed with a 15-0 run to rally past the Philadelphia 76ers 113-107 on Wednesday night.
Malik Monk added 20 points and six assists for the Kings, who won their second consecutive home game under interim coach Doug Christie after Mike Brown was fired last week.
Domantas Sabonis had 17 points, 21 rebounds and seven assists. DeMar DeRozan scored 18.
Paul George had 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the 76ers, who had won four in a row. Tyrese Maxey added 27 points, six assists and four steals.
Joel Embiid (sprained left foot) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (sprained left hand) did not play for the Sixers, while Keegan Murray was sidelined for the Kings with left ankle soreness.
Sacramento trailed by 14 in the first half but tied it 57-all at halftime. Philadelphia then led 107-98 with 3:15 remaining before the Kings took over.
Fox started the surge with a short floater and assisted on a 3-pointer by Keon Ellis before DeRozan tied it on a basket with a minute left. A goaltending call against the 76ers on Monk's driving layup gave the Kings the lead with 33.1 seconds to play.
George lost the ball and fouled Monk, who hit two free throws to make it 111-107 with 7.1 seconds left.
Sacramento (15-19) held the 76ers (13-18) scoreless for the final 3:30 and improved to 8-12 at home.
Maxey connected on his third 3-pointer with 6:52 left. He has made at least three shots from beyond the arc in 10 straight games, a franchise record.
Sabonis pulled down nine of Sacramento's 14 offensive rebounds.
Philadelphia completes a back-to-back at Golden State on Thursday night.
Sacramento hosts Memphis on Friday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Philadelphia 76ers guard Eric Gordon shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Doug McDermott (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse reacts to an official's call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond battles for a rebound with Sacramento Kings center Alex Len (25) and Kevin Huerter during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (14) drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Sacramento Kings interim head coach Doug Christie shouts instructions to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele, left, guards Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) is guarded by Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (16) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)
