The Pentagon is facing a significant reduction in its military aid to Kyiv, as the allocated US funds for supporting Ukraine's resistance against the Russian invasion are nearing exhaustion.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh revealed that 95 percent of the initial $62.3 billion dedicated to Ukraine has been spent, leaving only $1 billion to restock US weapon supplies sent to Kyiv. She noted the consequent decrease in the size of aid packages, emphasizing the need to ration support for Ukraine.
This is reported by The National News.
The US Congress is currently deadlocked over Ukraine funding. While both Republican and Democratic senators are eager to authorize additional billions in aid, the Republican-led House of Representatives is stalling any decision on the White House's spending package, largely due to growing far-right opposition against further financial assistance to Ukraine.
Singh stressed the ongoing, albeit diminishing, US support to Ukraine and urged Congress to approve President Joe Biden’s supplemental request.
This request encompasses a $106 billion spending bill, primarily intended to strengthen Ukraine's defenses, with the rest allocated to Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and border enforcement.
Contrastingly, House Republicans proposed an alternative funding plan, allocating $14.3 billion to Israel but excluding Ukraine entirely. President Biden has indicated he would veto this bill.
The Biden administration has consistently expressed concerns about maintaining the flow of military aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces. The Pentagon warned last month that a potential government shutdown could further impede the replenishment of weapons stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
The division within the Republican Party regarding support for Ukraine was evident during a recent presidential candidate debate. Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s contentious remarks about Ukraine, labeling its leadership as “Nazi” and condemning its ban on opposition groups, sparked criticism from fellow contenders.
