United States President Joe Biden has urged the Department of Defense to expedite the delivery of weapons to Ukraine following a Christmas Day assault by Russia on the energy infrastructure of its smaller neighbor.

Biden’s remarks on Wednesday come as his administration works diligently to provide military support to Ukraine ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. This overview highlights the commitments made by the US to Ukraine since Trump’s election in November and the urgency behind Biden’s efforts to allocate funds and resources to Ukraine.

What occurred during the Christmas attack on Ukraine?

On Wednesday, Russia launched an assault on Ukraine utilizing drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Local authorities reported that the attack resulted in injuries to at least six individuals in Kharkiv and one fatality in Dnipropetrovsk.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia “intentionally selected Christmas” to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

“What could be more inhumane?” Zelenskyy questioned in a post on X on Wednesday.

Ukraine, which traditionally observed Christmas on January 7 according to the Orthodox calendar, has shifted its celebration to December 25 over the past two years amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Keith Kellogg, appointed by Trump as his special envoy for the Ukraine conflict, criticized the recent attack, stating, “Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day.” He emphasized the United States’ commitment to restoring peace in Ukraine.

What was Biden’s response?

On Wednesday, Biden issued a statement denouncing Russia’s assault.

“The intent of this reprehensible attack was to deprive the Ukrainian people of heat and electricity during the winter months and to threaten the integrity of their power grid,” the statement read.

It further noted, “In recent months, the United States has supplied Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, with more on the way. I have instructed the Department of Defense to maintain its accelerated delivery of weapons to Ukraine.”

This commitment is the latest in a series of pledges made by Biden following Trump’s election victory over Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris. Since that time, the Biden administration has been working diligently to provide military assistance to Ukraine before Trump assumes office.

What is the extent of US aid to Ukraine?

As outlined in a fact sheet released by the White House on December 2, the US has allocated $61.4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

On December 2, the Biden administration unveiled a $725 million military aid package that includes munitions, surface-to-air missile systems, small arms, spare parts, and demolition equipment. This package was authorized through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and received approval from the US Congress.

On December 7, the United States committed $988 million in military assistance to Ukraine. This package featured drones and munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which had previously been supplied to Ukraine. This aid was allocated through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) rather than the usual Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA).

Subsequently, on December 12, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a military aid package for Kyiv valued at $500 million, which included HIMARS ammunition, drones, and armored vehicles. This package was sourced from the PDA.

What additional military support could President Biden provide to Ukraine?

With Republicans taking control of both chambers of the new Congress at the start of the year, it is improbable that Biden, a Democrat, will obtain the necessary approvals for further funding for Ukraine. Former President Trump and many of his Republican supporters have expressed their opposition to what they characterize as a “blank check” for Ukraine.

Despite the challenges in securing new approvals, Biden still has access to a reserve of funds that his administration intends to utilize to maximize aid to Ukraine before he potentially hands over the presidency to Trump.

As of late November, the remaining balance in the PDA was estimated between $4 billion and $5 billion. Despite President Biden committing $1.5 billion from this fund, there remains a substantial amount available for further assistance to Ukraine.

From August 2022 through December 12 of this year, the Biden administration has utilized the PDA on 55 occasions to provide support to Ukraine.

Moreover, approximately $2.2 billion is still accessible under the USAI for Biden’s use.

What is prompting the Biden administration to expedite aid to Ukraine?

Former President Trump has raised concerns regarding U.S. financial involvement in Ukraine.

During a campaign rally in Georgia in September, Trump claimed, “Every time Zelenskyy comes to the United States, he walks away with $100 billion,” referencing an unfounded statistic.

He asserted, “We’re stuck in that war unless I’m president,” during the event.

The president-elect has expressed a desire to swiftly conclude the conflict in Ukraine, which has led to worries that he may reduce support for Kyiv once he assumes office.

On December 13, John Kirby, the U.S. national security spokesman, stated that Biden would “continue to provide additional packages right up to the end of this administration.”