US announces more aid to Ukraine as Zelenskiy calls for NATO troops to ‘force Russia to peace’

Ramstein Air Base, Germany – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that Donald Trump’s return to the White House would open a “new page” and repeated his call for Western allies to send troops to “force Russia to peace.” He made the appeal as the Biden administration announced what would be its last major military aid package to Ukraine — pledging $500 million worth of weapons and other support.

Zelensky spoke at a meeting of about 50 allies held at the Ramstein air base of the American army in Germany. It is the last such gathering before Trump takes office on January 20. His imminent return to the White House calls into question future American support. Ukraine’s war effortgiven earlier favorable notes About Vladimir Putin, Russia’s authoritarian president, and Trump’s promise to quickly end the war nearly three years after he launched a full-scale invasion of Moscow.

While no clear indication of how he intends to achieve this has been offered, many in Ukraine and across Europe worry that Trump may follow through on his promise by cutting off aid to Ukraine. Urges Zelensky to negotiate a ceasefire It allows Russia to maintain control over a large part of the occupied territory in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

“It is clear that a new chapter is starting for Europe and the whole world – just 11 days from now, a time when we need to cooperate more, trust each other more and achieve greater results together,” Zelenskiy added. that he sees it as a “time of opportunity.”

As the fierce war nears its three-year mark on February 24, Zelensky reiterated his call for Western allies to send troops to help Ukraine.

“Our goal is to find as many tools as possible to force Russia to make peace,” he said at the meeting. “I think that such deployment of the contingent of partners is one of the best means.”

Under the leadership of President Joe Biden, the United States has been Ukraine’s largest wartime backer, providing more than $65 billion in military aid since February 2022. Shortly after the start of the war, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who launched the Ramstein format, announced a new military aid package. on Thursday.

The aid, which includes provisions for a wide range of missiles and other weapons and equipment, as well as services, training and transportation, would be the 74th such package from the existing US military inventory to Ukraine since Mr Biden took office. It is stated in the statement of the department.

“The United States and more than 50 countries are united to ensure that Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Opening the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Austin said Ukraine’s war against invading Russian forces is “important to all of us.” “We are all interested in ensuring that autocrats cannot put their imperial ambitions ahead of the basic rights of free and sovereign peoples.”

Head of the European Union’s foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, expressed hope that the United States would continue its support to Ukraine. Otherwise, he added, the EU is ready to take the lead.

“I’m really sure that all the other members, and hopefully the United States, are ready to continue supporting Ukraine,” Kallas said on his way to the Ramstein meeting.

At this stage, he told reporters that “we really shouldn’t speculate” about future US support. But he said, “It is not in America’s interest for Russia to be the most powerful force in the world.”

However, he added that “if the United States does not want to do this, the European Union is also ready to take this leadership.”

Currently, there are Russian and Ukrainian forces participated in fierce battlesThey are trying to secure their position on the battlefield before Trump’s inauguration.

Trump has long criticized NATO allies for spending too little on the bloc’s common defense. This week, he sounded more alarm bells He refused to rule out military action to take GreenlandAn autonomous territory of EU and NATO member Denmark under US control along with the Panama Canal.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that allies must help Ukraine achieve a position of strength before any eventual ceasefire or peace talks.

“We need to put Ukraine in the best possible position so that one day negotiations on the resolution of this conflict will begin at the initiative of Ukraine, they are in the best position for this.” “And then when those negotiations are over, in some sense it’s going to be looked at whether it’s a good deal. If it’s not a good deal, the Chinese, the North Koreans, Iran, obviously Russia.”

“The whole world is watching,” Rutte said.