Ukraine war briefing: Biden plans military aid surge from billions still available, say reports

Zelenskyy congratulates Trump on election win – but gloom and uncertainty prevail in Kyiv. What we know on day 988

See all our coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war

The Biden White House plans to rush billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine before the outgoing Democratic president leaves office in January, sources told Reuters on Wednesday. “The administration plans to push forward … to put Ukraine in the strongest position possible” a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity. Biden’s plans for the transfers were first reported by Politico. The White House did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The outgoing, Republican-controlled House of Representatives last approved aid for Ukraine in April including the authority for Joe Biden to transfer billions of dollars in weapons from US stocks. Of the weapons transfer authority passed in April, $4.3bn remains, in addition to $2.8bn worth of transfers lawmakers approved in previous spending measures and $2bn in funding for the purchase of new weapons from industry. In total, that $9bn in military assistance would be a significant boost to Ukraine’s stores.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has put a brave face on a US election result that could mean a sharp cut in funding for his war effort, writes Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, saying Donald Trump’s commitment to peace through strength could bring a “just peace closer”. But the reality for Ukraine is one of gloom and uncertainty, Luke Harding and Dan Sabbagh write from Kyiv, amid expectations that Trump is likely to end US military assistance, while the Kremlin said its aim of subjugating its neighbour remained unchanged.

Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his “impressive election victory”, adding: “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.” Later, Zelenskyy said he congratulated Trump during an “excellent” phone call. “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering US leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”

Analysts say it is by no means certain Washington will back any more assistance for Kyiv once Republicans control the White House and at least the Senate, especially as Ukraine experiences battlefield setbacks. “That’s going to be a problem when you go forward with additional funding for Ukraine, which at some point is going to be necessary,” said Scott Anderson, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution.

On the 1,000km frontline in Ukraine, Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had captured the eastern Ukrainian villages of Maksymivka, near Vuhledar which they already hold, and Antonivka, near the embattled town of Kurakhove. Ukraine’s military did not acknowledge that either had fallen into Russian hands but said it repulsed Russian attacks as fighting continued around both villages.

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