Blinken: Biden Administration Committed to Supporting Ukraine’s Defense in 2024

KYIV, Ukraine — The Biden Administration is committed to ensuring that Ukraine can continue defending itself against Russia’s invasion next year, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who spoke on Wednesday. The administration plans to provide Ukraine with as much aid as possible to deter Russian forces and strengthen its position in potential peace negotiations.

“President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and Jan. 20,” when president-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office, Blinken said.

NATO countries must prioritize ensuring that Ukraine has sufficient funding, munitions, and mobilized troops to effectively defend itself in 2025, or to be able to negotiate peace from a position of strength, Blinken said during a visit to Brussels.

The U.S. will adapt and adjust the equipment it is sending to Ukraine, Blinken said, without providing specific details.

The nearly three-year war shows no signs of abating.

Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday. This occurred a day after the Pentagon stated that the majority of the North Korean troops sent to aid Russia are engaged in combat to expel Ukraine’s army from Russian territory in .

Ukraine is also struggling to repel a protracted .

Political uncertainty surrounding a potential U.S. administration under Trump is a significant new factor in the conflict. U.S. military aid is crucial for Ukraine, but Trump has indicated that he does not intend to continue providing billions of dollars to Kyiv.

Air raid sirens sounded for hours as Russia targeted eight regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, launching six ballistic and cruise missiles and 90 drones, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Air defenses intercepted four missiles and 37 drones, while another 47 drones were disabled by electronic jamming, the statement said. Damage assessments are underway.

The aerial assault occurred as most of the over 10,000 North Korean troops dispatched by Pyongyang to assist Moscow in the war are engaged in combat in Russia’s Kursk border region, according to the Pentagon. A Ukrainian army incursion into Kursk three months ago has successfully held a vast area of land, embarrassing the Kremlin.

Russia has trained the North Korean soldiers in artillery, drone operations, and basic infantry tactics, including trench clearing, Pentagon deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a briefing on Tuesday. The Pentagon acknowledges challenges in the cooperation, including achieving military interoperability and overcoming the language barrier.

Kyiv officials claim that Russia has deployed approximately 50,000 troops to Kursk in an effort to dislodge the Ukrainians.

Russia has been amassing forces for a counteroffensive in Kursk in recent months, according to the Institute for the Study of War think tank, although the timeline for the operation remains unknown.