Biden Administration Races to Deliver Aid to Ukraine Before Trump Takes Office
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise trip to Brussels Wednesday with a message to NATO and EU allies of continued American support for Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Bloomberg reports.
Blinken emphasized the Biden administration’s commitment to “ensure every dollar we have at our disposal” reaches Ukraine before Trump takes office.
Concerns have arisen among Ukraine’s European allies about the potential for Trump to drastically scale back US support, shifting the burden onto Europe. This concern stems from Trump’s past criticisms of the US massive assistance to Kyiv.
Blinken said that the US will continue to deliver military equipment and financial assistance from the $61 billion package passed by Congress earlier this year. This includes air defense systems, artillery, and armored vehicles.
The urgency of this effort is underscored by the appointment of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and vocal China hawk, as Trump’s pick for defense secretary. This unexpected choice has fueled speculation about a potential shift in US foreign policy toward Ukraine.
Trump pledged during his campaign to quickly end the conflict.
Blinken also addressed North Korea’s deployment of troops to Ukraine, calling it a “profound and incredibly dangerous development.”