The US was expected to announce $500 million (€484.7 million) in military aid for Ukraine at a final gathering of outgoing President Joe Biden’s weapons-pledging conferences, meetings Kyiv said have been critical to its defence against Russia.
On January 9, defence leaders are due to meet at Ramstein Air Base in Germany for the 25th Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, where Biden was due to announce the military aid pledge.
The UDCG, comprised of about 50 allies who usually meet every few months at Ramstein Air Base, was formed in 2022 by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to speed and synchronise the delivery of arms to Kyiv.
“We’re not sunsetting the group. The next administration is completely welcome and encouraged … to take the mantle of this 50 country-strong group and continue to drive and lead through it,” a senior US defence official told Reuters on January 8, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The group’s future was unclear with US President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20. Trump advisers have floated proposals to end the Ukraine war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future.
Washington has committed more than $63.5 billion (€61.5 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
“It [UDGC] will endure in some capacity, in some form going forward, I believe, regardless of exactly how the next team does or doesn’t pursue it,” the US defence official said.
Trump was said to have a few billion dollars in appropriated money that he could use for Ukraine’s military needs once he took office.
The defence official added that the January 9 meeting would look to endorse roadmaps for Ukraine’s military needs and objectives through 2027.
More than 12,300 civilians have been killed in the conflict since Russia invaded Ukraine almost three years ago, the United Nations said, noting a spike in casualties due to the use of drones, long-range missiles and glide bombs.
Kyiv said on January 7 its forces were “commencing new offensive actions” in Russia’s western Kursk region.
Ukraine first seized part of the Kursk region in a surprise incursion last August and it has held territory there for five months despite losing some ground.
The apparent escalation in the fighting in the Kursk region comes at a critical time for Ukraine, whose outnumbered and outgunned troops are struggling to repel Russian advances in the east.
