Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used their final meeting Thursday to press the incoming Trump administration not to give up on Kyiv’s fight, warning that to cease military support now “will only invite more aggression,

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces $500 million in military aid for Ukraine

Formed in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has ballooned to 50-plus member nations and has overseen the transfer of $126 billion worth of weapons and equipment, making it one of the largest arms transfers in history.

The latest aid package, drawn from existing weapons and equipment stockpiles within the Department of Defense, will provide Kyiv with air defense missiles; air-to-ground munitions; and equipment to support Ukraine's use of F-16s.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Jan. 9 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to discuss U.S. support to Ukraine.