Senior Biden aide pledges surge of military aid for Ukraine
5 Min Read
The White House develops a last-minute strategy to aid Ukraine, including $20 billion in loans and enhanced sanctions on Russia.
-
Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, on 12 March. (AP)
The White House has outlined a last-minute plan to strengthen Ukraine's position in the war, featuring a substantial increase in military aid and sweeping new sanctions against Russia, according to a National Security Council spokesperson during a background briefing.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a meeting on Thursday with Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s office, lasting over an hour. During the discussion, Sullivan pledged to deliver "hundreds of thousands of additional artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles" to Ukraine by mid-January, according to details shared with The Guardian.
To address Ukraine’s manpower needs, the US also plans to train new Ukrainian troops at facilities outside the country. In addition, the US is close to finalizing $20 billion in loans secured by profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets.
This support will be accompanied by a new wave of sanctions aimed at undermining Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort. These measures are designed to "boost Ukraine’s bargaining power at the negotiation table" and potentially pave the way for a future settlement.
Diverging paths on Ukraine aid and peace strategy
The White House’s latest actions come just over a month before Donald Trump’s inauguration, raising speculation that the US could introduce a completely new strategy aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine.
A Reuters report suggests that Trump’s team is quietly working on a peace plan for Ukraine, which would exclude NATO membership and potentially concede significant Ukrainian territory to Russia—marking a significant departure from current US policy. Trump himself has repeatedly claimed that he could "end the Ukraine and Russia war within 24 hours."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak and Ambassador Oksana Markarova, have been in talks this week with key members of Trump’s transition team. These meetings include discussions with Senator JD Vance, Florida Representative, and potential National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, as well as Keith Kellogg, Trump’s designated envoy for Russia and Ukraine, as they push for continued US support.
The urgency of these meetings has increased following House Speaker Mike Johnson's decision to block a vote on $24 billion in additional aid for Ukraine. Despite this, the Pentagon announced a $725 million military aid package this week—the largest since April.
Russia ready for Trump’s peace proposal: Deputy FM
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview for CNN on Thursday that Russia is willing to consider US President-elect Donald Trump’s ideas for resolving the Ukraine conflict, but so far, no specific proposals have been received.
While Trump has often stated that he could bring an end to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, Ryabkov mentioned that Moscow has not had any direct communication with Trump or his team about the matter since his election victory last month.
The diplomat emphasized that Russia is open to evaluating the future US president’s proposals once they are presented but made it clear that Moscow will not compromise on its fundamental national interests.
In the interview, Ryabkov also stated that there is currently "zero" chance of a compromise between Moscow and Kiev, as the positions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seem "incompatible".
The diplomat told CNN that “the moment people in Kiev begin to understand there’s no way Russia will go the way they suggested – there might be openings and opportunities."
'We will prevail, no doubt'
The deputy minister warned that there is "no magic solution" to the conflict and criticized the West for lacking common sense, restraint, and "sober analysis" while also underestimating Russia’s determination to protect its fundamental security interests.
“We have not lost our senses. We will not let ourselves be provoked into anything,” Ryabkov said, adding that Russia nevertheless has the “stamina and strong will” to defend its national interest “with all means,” regardless of how much money the US burns in the conflict or what “people in the EU believe they should do to support Kiev.”
“We will prevail there, no doubt,” the diplomat said.
Advisors to US President-elect Donald Trump were said to be proposing peace plans for the Ukraine war that could involve significant territorial concessions to Russia, signaling a potentially dramatic shift in US policy.
According to interviews and statements analyzed by Reuters, the proposals suggest suspending Ukraine's NATO aspirations and leveraging US military aid to force both sides into negotiations.
Among the key figures crafting these proposals is retired Army Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, Trump's incoming Russia-Ukraine envoy.
Read next: Trump's Ukraine envoy proposes cutting weapons to force peace talks
