WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday directed the Defense Department to sustain its accelerated weapons deliveries to Ukraine after condemning Russia’s Christmas Day attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities.
The strikes, involving cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones, left at least six people injured in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and killed one person in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to local officials.
With the war approaching its third year, the U.S. has committed $175 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, future support remains uncertain as Republican President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office on Jan. 20. Trump has pledged to end the conflict swiftly while advocating for greater European involvement in sharing the financial burden.
Key Responses
President Biden condemned Russia’s attacks, stating, “The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid.”
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s nominee for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, criticized the strike, saying, “Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region.”
Concerns Over U.S. Aid Under Trump
While bipartisan support in Congress has historically sustained U.S. aid to Ukraine, Trump’s presidency and the Republican-controlled Congress could alter this dynamic. Many Republicans have expressed reservations about continued large-scale funding, raising concerns among Kyiv’s supporters about future U.S. involvement.
This uncertainty has sparked renewed debates about U.S. priorities in the conflict and Europe’s role in supporting Ukraine during the ongoing war.