Editor's word: This can be a creating story and is being up to date.

Outgoing U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin introduced on Jan. 9 a $500 million support package deal for Ukraine, together with air protection missiles, ammunition, and gear for F-16 fighter jets.

The package deal was unveiled on the Ramstein summit in Germany. It’s anticipated to be the ultimate U.S. protection tranche supplied by the Biden administration earlier than Donald Trump takes workplace on Jan. 20.

Trump's imminent return to the White Home has triggered concern about the way forward for U.S. assist for Ukraine, because the president-elect has typically criticized the Biden administration's help supplied to Kyiv.

The incoming U.S. management adjustments have additionally solid doubt on the way forward for the Ramstein-format Ukraine Protection Contact Group, a coalition of 57 nations that has been coordinating support for Ukraine since April 2022.

"Month after month, members of this Contact Group have helped present, produce, and maintain the techniques and the munitions that Ukraine wants," Austin mentioned in his deal with to the assembly alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Protection Minister Boris Pistorius.

"So we should not let up. That's why I’m saying immediately one other Presidential Drawdown Authority package deal, valued at roughly $500 million.

"It consists of extra missiles for Ukrainian air protection, extra ammunition, and extra air-to-ground munitions and different gear to assist Ukraine's F-16s."

‘It would be crazy to drop the ball now’ — Zelensky urges continued unity, support for Ukraine at RamsteinPresident Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings during the summit, which could be the group’s last meeting in the current format.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova