Ukraine's Western allies will gather with President Volodymyr Zelensky at a US base in Germany on Thursday in their last such meeting before Donald Trump returns to the White House in less than two weeks.

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.

Outgoing Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin has said that even though Russia appears to have the upper hand in its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is facing a growing number of challenges that will complicate any attempts to consolidate its gains.

Even as Russia seems to have the upper hand in its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin faces a growing number of challenges that will complicate any effort to lock in its gains, the outgoing Pentagon chief said.

The U.S. is set to provide Ukraine an additional $500 million in weapons quickly pulled from its existing stockpiles as the Biden administration works to get Kyiv in a stronger negotiating position before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The plans will focus on Ukraine's air force, drone programs and air defense capabilities, among other parts of Kyiv's military, a U.S. defense official said.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has departed for Germany to attend the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base, which is his last one before the end of the Biden administration.

American leadership on Ukraine is "critical" and continued assistance for Kyiv is key, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, a day ahead of the expected announcement of a major new US military aid package.

The Biden administration is set to announce a massive, final weapons aid package for Ukraine as part of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Germany this week to meet with representatives of about 50 partner nations who have come to Ukraine’s defense since Russia invaded nearly three years ago.

The dozens of nations sending military aid to Ukraine will attempt to map out a way to sustain the wartorn country’s defensive efforts through 2027, a senior U.S. defense official said Tuesday ahead of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s final meeting with the group.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told The Associated Press that the U.S. needs to keep troops deployed in Syria to prevent the Islamic State group from reconstituting as a major threat.