Ukraine Given Another $1.1 Billion in Emergency Aid After Asking for Donations

Seventy countries have now pledged an additional one billion euros ($1.1 billion) in emergency winter aid to Ukraine, according to reports.

The news comes days after President Volodymyr Zelensky issues fresh pleas for funds to help his country withstand the winter ahead.

The pledges came as France hosted a global meeting in Paris to discuss what could be delivered to Ukraine, which included energy, health, water, and food during Ukraine’s cold winter.

The money is added to the billions already sent to the country.

As The Daily Fetched reported in October, the Biden White House announced another new weapons package worth $275 million for Ukraine, bringing the total cost of military aid to $18.5 billion sent to the country since January 2021.

“Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, today I am authorizing our twenty-fourth drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021,” Blinken said.

RELATED: EU to Gift $18 Billion to Ukraine Next Year, the Rest Will Come From U.S

Blinken added that the drawdown would boast weapons from the Pentagon’s inventories.

“We are also working to provide Ukraine with the air defense capabilities it needs with the two initial U.S.-provided NASAMS ready for delivery to Ukraine next month, and we are working with Allies and partners to enable delivery of their own air defense systems to Ukraine,” he added.

Following the Paris meeting, U.S. officials said the White House was prepared to approve sending a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine.

As Brietbart noted:

The Patriot would be the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine in its war with Russia since the invasion of Feb. 24.

White House and Pentagon leaders have said consistently providing Ukraine with additional air defenses is a priority, and Patriot missiles have been under consideration for some time, in a move first reported by CNN.

An online portal has also now been established for the world to directly send money to Ukraine, AFP reports.

The digital platform, announced by G7 leaders on Monday, will enable Ukraine to list its requirements and allow international donors to coordinate their responses in real-time by sending quantities of cash.

A similar platform exists for military aid, which is coordinated via meetings of Ukraine’s Western allies at the U.S.-run Ramstein military base in Germany.