WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
The U.S. Department of Defense said today it has approved new military aid to Ukraine estimated at $988 million, as the administration of outgoing President Joseph Biden seeks to expedite the delivery of aid to Kiev before Donald Trump arrives in the White House on January 20.
The new aid includes unmanned aerial vehicles, HIMARS missile systems and increased assistance for the maintenance of critical equipment, the Pentagon said in a statement.
Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election in November has cast doubt on the future of American support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The announced aid will be provided through a mechanism that purchases military equipment from the defense industry or partners, rather than from U.S. stockpiles. Therefore, the aid is not expected to be available to Ukraine for use on the battlefield in the short term.
Trump, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris along with French President Emmanuel Macron, has been highly critical in recent months of decisions to divert billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Ukraine.
The president-elect has promised to resolve the war between Kiev and Moscow before he is sworn in in January, although he has not yet explained how he intends to do so.
Ukraine’s European allies fear a U.S. withdrawal, or U.S. pressure to reach an agreement to the detriment of Kiev.
