Biden administration announces $250 million Ukraine military aid as US funding runs out

The US State Department announced a $250 million Ukraine military aid package on Wednesday, the last until Congress approves the Biden administration's funding requests.

“This package provides up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Today's package includes air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition.”

Last week, the Biden administration announced one more Ukraine security package for this year, but it would be the last without congressional approval. Defense Department comptroller Mike McCord wrote to Congress that “once these funds are obligated, the Department will have exhausted the funding available to us for security assistance to Ukraine.”

This package limits US weapons sales to Ukraine without congressional funding. The Biden administration has requested a $60 billion-plus Ukraine aid package from Congress. Negotiators are stuck on border security and immigration policy, key Republican demands, which has stalled the legislation.