Funds exhausted
The USA is providing the last military aid to Kiev for the time being
December 28, 2023, 2:20 a.m
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The US is providing Ukraine with another $250 billion, primarily for anti-aircraft and artillery ammunition. It is the last aid package of this year and the approved funds have been exhausted. It remains to be seen whether and when the US Congress will approve additional funds for Kiev.
The US government is providing Ukraine with additional military aid amounting to 250 million US dollars (around 225 million euros) – this means that the US funds approved so far have now largely been exhausted. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was the last package this year. The aid primarily includes ammunition – including 15 million rounds for smaller weapons as well as ammunition for air defense or the US multiple rocket launcher of the HIMARS type. “Our assistance has been critical in supporting our Ukrainian partners in defending their country and their freedom against Russian aggression,” Blinken said.
It is completely unclear how US support for the country attacked by Russia will continue in the future. The White House had already declared in mid-December that it only had funds for another military aid package for Ukraine this year. It was also said that the funds approved so far will be used up by the end of the year. Already in October, US President Joe Biden asked Congress for new aid for Kiev amounting to around $61 billion, but in vain.
Republicans want something in return
The release of further funds is currently blocked by a dispute in the US Parliament between Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans are standing in the way of approving new aid because they are demanding that US President Joe Biden tighten asylum policy in the USA in return. It is unclear whether, how and when both parties will agree on new funding next year. Biden dampened the prospects of a quick approval of further US aid during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington two weeks ago. He acknowledged that he could make “no promises” but was hopeful that there would be an agreement in Congress. The house returns from winter break on January 8th.
In the meantime, the Democrat can try to reallocate funds from other areas to Ukraine. However, this means that he cannot provide the sums that would be necessary to provide lasting support to Ukraine on a large scale. The military budget passed by Congress also includes money for military aid to Ukraine – but only $300 million.
Biden gave Secretary of State Blinken the authority to decide whether it was important to U.S. security interests to provide up to $20 million in aid to Ukraine. The USA is Ukraine’s most important ally in the defense against the Russian invasion. Since the war began in February 2022, the United States, led by Biden, has provided or pledged more than $44 billion in military aid to Kyiv.