U.S. defense chief to hold meeting on Kiev support by end of January

A meeting of the contact group on assistance to Ukraine headed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will be held before he leaves office at the end of January. This was reported in the Pentagon on December 30.

"Austin intends to convene the 25th meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine together with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in the new year", - stated in the message.

The Pentagon indicated that at the meeting Ukraine's allies are required to present plans to help Kiev.

In the United States on January 20, 2025, the inauguration of American President-elect Donald Trump will take place. Together with the current President Joe Biden, all officials of his administration, including Austin, will leave their posts.

Last step: West says loan to Kiev agreed from profits from frozen Russian assets

US shifts responsibility for Ukraine to allies

Earlier in the day, it became known about a new package of US aid to Kiev worth almost $2.5 billion. It is specified that the package will include assistance to the Ukrainian military in the amount of $1.25 billion, as well as assistance under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) in the amount of $1.22 billion.

At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed details of the new aid package. It is planned to include communications equipment, transportation, software, equipment elements and spare parts. In addition, Washington intends to send ammunition for air defense systems, artillery ammunition of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber, air-to-ground projectiles, missiles for TOW anti-tank systems.

On 13 December, Duma deputy Alexander Tolmachyov said in a conversation with Izvestiya that US President Joe Biden was coordinating the transfer of huge funds to Ukraine at the end of his term because he had nothing left to lose.

Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine amid Russia's special operation to protect Donbas, which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.