Outgoing US president asks for $24 billion in aid for Ukraine

President Joe Biden is quietly making a long-shot request to lawmakers for another $24 billion to aid Ukraine and replace U.S. weapons, Politico writes.

According to the website’s sources in Congress, U.S. lawmakers received the request on Nov 25.

Biden expects $16 billion to be allocated to “replenish U.S. weapons” that have previously been sent to Kyiv. Another $8 billion is proposed to be allocated through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). It involves the signing of contracts between the U.S. Department of Defense and manufacturers, rather than directly providing specific equipment from the U.S. arsenal.

Businessman Elon Musk responded negatively to Biden’s request.

“This is not normal,” Musk wrote on X. The billionaire is in the close circle of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and, along with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, is set to lead a new department aimed at improving the effectiveness of anti-bureaucracy activities.