In a latest development in the ongoing debate over funding for Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced a $250 million weapons package for the country on Wednesday. The announcement comes amidst warnings from the White House that funds for Ukraine will dry up by the end of the year unless Congress approves new funding. However, Republicans are refusing to approve the additional aid without an agreement with Democrats to tighten security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

President Biden had requested an additional $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, but negotiations with Republicans have so far yielded no agreement. With Congress having gone home for the holidays without a deal in place for funding, the urgency to secure additional support for Ukraine remains.

The $250 million weapons package includes air defense munitions, anti-armor munitions, ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and more than 15 million rounds of small arms ammunition. This support is crucial for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, as the war enters its 22nd month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the aid package, highlighting the significant military support that the U.S. has provided over the course of the year. He wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, "Over the course of this year, the U.S. has provided 34 military aid packages worth over $24 billion... We will always be grateful for all of this support."

Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, Congress has approved more than $110 billion in aid for Ukraine. However, no funds have been approved since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives in January 2023. Senate Republicans earlier this month blocked an aid package for Kyiv due to the absence of changes to border security policy.

President Biden, during his meeting with President Zelensky in early December, emphasized the urgent need for additional funding to help Ukraine respond to operational demands. However, no deal was reached before Congress adjourned for the holiday break. Negotiations are expected to resume in early January, with a January 19th deadline approaching to fund the U.S. government.

The White House has reiterated its pleas to Congress for immediate action, warning that without the additional appropriation, U.S. aid for Kyiv will run out by the end of the year. White House spokesman John Kirby stated, "We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month. However, when that one's done... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying."

The Pentagon has also expressed concerns over the lack of funding, with Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn stating that the administration has exhausted the funds used to replenish U.S. stockpiles after making weapons donations. This shortfall in replenishing military stocks could potentially affect American military readiness.

President Biden's request to Congress includes additional authority of $7 billion for arms donations, $18 billion for replenishing donated U.S. stocks, and $12 billion for longer-term arms-manufacturing contracts for Ukraine. These funds are seen as a lifeline for Ukraine in its battle against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

As the war in Ukraine continues to drag on, with recent incidents of Russian shelling and Ukrainian warplanes damaging a Russian ship, the need for international support becomes increasingly vital. Russian President Putin has seized upon Ukraine's difficulties, noting in a year-end news conference that Western aid is gradually coming to an end.

As Congress prepares to reconvene in early January, the fate of Ukraine's financial support hangs in the balance. The urgency to reach a bipartisan agreement and secure the necessary funding remains pivotal for the country's ongoing battle with Russia and its efforts to protect its sovereignty.