US President Biden announces $2.5bn military aid package for Ukraine
Al Jazeera
Administration of US President Joe Biden has committed more than $65bn in support since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
United States President Joe Biden has announced that his administration will send nearly $2.5bn in military assistance to Ukraine, as the president rushes aid to the war-torn country before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
The new round of assistance, announced on Monday, includes $1.25bn derived from presidential drawdown authority, which allows Biden to withdraw materials from US military supplies without the need for congressional approval.
Another $1.22bn comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a programme run through the Department of Defense and funded by congressional appropriations.
In addition to the military aid, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen also unveiled $3.4bn in economic assistance on Monday to help Ukraine’s government and prop up its infrastructure.
“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.”
Here are the key developments on the 1,043rd day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Suspected gunman in shooting rampage in town of Cetinje shoots himself in the head after being surrounded by police.
Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza continues as rain, cold and a lack of food worsens the crisis in the enclave.
Authorities say they are investigating the incident, in which seven people sustained minor injuries.
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Both the state governor and mayor of Honolulu pledged to crack down on illegal fireworks in the aftermath of the blast.
McConnell is set to step down as the longest-serving Senate leader. Experts say he transformed the chamber into a battlefield.
Russia’s dominance of the EU energy market ends but it will likely cause energy crisis in several EU countries.
Attacks reported from Jabalia in the north, Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and the southern city of Khan Younis.
Leader of the M23 group says its rebellion in eastern DR Congo is a ‘defensive’ one, hopes for dialogue with Kinshasa.