US provides Ukraine with a new aid package worth $500 million

The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during a speech at a meeting of the Ramstein Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

This package includes air defense missiles, other ammunition, and equipment to support Ukrainian F-16 fighters.

“Here at Ramstein, I am committed to doing everything I can to help Ukraine live in freedom and security. Together, our work must continue. Here is a fundamental truth: Ukraine's struggle is important to all of us,” Austin said.

It should be noted that this is the last aid package to Ukraine announced by the current Joe Biden administration before Donald Trump's team takes office.

At the same time, about $3.8 billion more allocated to support Kyiv will remain unused. The Pentagon has noted that the new Trump administration will be able to use them to support Ukraine if it decides to do so.

What is Ramstein?

This is the name of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which was created to assess Ukraine's defense needs and provide assistance. The first meeting of the Contact Group took place on April 26, 2022 at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany with the participation of 40 countries.

Currently, the Ramstein Contact Group includes approximately 50 countries that provide military assistance to Ukraine. In particular, Argentina joined Ramstein at the penultimate meeting.

Back in the fall, current US President Joe Biden convened a Ramstein meeting at the leadership level. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected it to be "special" — Ukraine expects specific things from partners to strengthen its strategy.

However, due to Hurricane Milton, Biden remained in the US to oversee preparations and response. After that, there were no updates on his participation in the meeting.