The US Presidential Administration is working to send the remaining funding for Ukraine aid after the current fiscal year ends, ensuring that the total amount is delivered before the end of Joe Biden’s presidential term, claimed Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, according to Ukrinform.
The official explained that the administration aims to send Ukraine all the aid approved by Congress in earlier this year, which amounts to over $60 billion.
“I don’t have anything to announce right now. But what I can tell you is that we’re committed to making sure Ukraine gets the resources Congress approved by the end of the president’s term again. I don’t have more to announce right now, but we’re committed to making sure that Ukraine gets what it, what it has been allotted by Congress and we are working with the inner agency to do just that,” Singh said.
In response to lawmakers’ criticism regarding the slow use of funds for Ukraine’s support, Singh reminded that for six months, while Congress approved the new package, the Pentagon lacked funds to replenish its stockpiles.
“I’d have to point you back to the fact that for six months, we didn’t have a supplemental, so we weren’t able to refill our own shelves. So therefore when you’re not able to backfill and refill our own stocks, we’re not able to send out PDAs,” the official explained.
Previously, Reuters reported that the US Congress and the Biden administration were nearing an agreement to seek a one-year extension of $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine that is set to expire at the end of September.
US Congress nears deal to extend expiring $6 billion Ukraine aid package, Reuters sources say
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Congress has approved nearly $175 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine and allied nations. Much of this funding has been allocated for long-term US defense production to replace equipment sent to Kyiv.
Update:
The headline has been corrected to remove ambiguity regarding Ukraine receiving $60 billion. The quotes have been replaced with the original English-language versions to avoid double translation issues, as they were initially sourced from a Ukrainian source.
Related:
- CNN: Shrinking Pentagon stockpiles lead to reduced military aid for Ukraine
- Politico: Biden deliberates on Ukraine’s missile use in Russia as nuclear plants face rising threats
- US’ Ukraine aid faces deadline as White House seeks extension
- Pentagon pledges to use all available funds to support Ukraine but doesn’t provide details as fiscal year ends
- Reuters: Biden Administration scrambles to save $6 bn in Ukraine aid before fiscal year-end
