NATO has taken over air defenses in Poland from the US just days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a NATO spokesman, with questions looming about the incoming administration’s approach to the alliance and to Ukraine.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin answered a plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more help to keep Russian warplanes away from its cities and borders with a $500 million package of fresh military aid.

Donald Trump must keep backing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition to ensure the country is not “erased off the map”, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said during a final meeting of Kyiv’s allies before the president-elect returns to the White House.

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair made the corresponding statement after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Germany. Most of the funds will be spent on artillery shells. “Ammunition remains one of Ukraine's key priorities,

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced a US$500 million military aid package during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein-format meetings, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

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.

Poland is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine. Additionally, Kyiv will receive new batches of tanks as part of the corresponding coalition, according to a statement by Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz during the Ramstein meeting.