The Pentagon asked Congress to replace the dwindling US military stockpile by approving a measure with more funds for Ukraine days before Republican lawmakers sacrificed additional aid for Kyiv.
Deputy Defense Secretary Michael McCord told House and Senate lawmakers in a Sept. 29 letter that only $1.6 billion of the $25.9 billion was approved to increase the US weapons stockpile, including artillery, rockets and missiles for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
Separately, the US has $5.4 billion left to provide weapons and equipment from its stockpile, which the Pentagon acquired after previously overvaluing some equipment.
“We have been forced to slow our own power additions to hedge against an uncertain funding future,” McCord wrote. “Failure to replenish our military service in a timely manner could undermine the readiness of our military.”
The Pentagon asked Congress to replace the dwindling US military stockpile by approving a measure with more funding for Ukraine days after the government funding.AFP via Getty Images Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky. ) had initially agreed to a price tag in their own ongoing settlement proposal. AFP via Getty Images
McCord also said the aid is “critical and urgent now as Russia prepares for a winter offensive.”
Congress averted a government shutdown on Saturday by passing a continuing resolution to fund current federal spending levels through Nov. 17 — but declined to include $6 billion in additional funding for Ukraine.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had initially agreed to the price tag in their own proposed continuing resolution, but scrapped the bill as the deadline approached.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington, DC, last month to urge lawmakers to approve more funding for his country’s war effort, insisting that his forces “won.” Getty Images
House Republicans have threatened to veto any stopgap funding bill that includes aid to Ukraine, leading to more streamlined legislation.
A GOP conference majority also opposed a separate measure to provide $300 million in military aid to Kyiv.
The relief bill passed Thursday with 210 Democrats and 101 Republicans voting in favor. Another 117 GOP lawmakers voted against it.
Congress averted a government shutdown on Saturday by passing a continuing resolution to fund current federal spending levels through Nov. 17 — but declined to include $6 billion in additional funding for Ukraine.Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington, DC, last month to urge lawmakers to approve more funding for his country’s war effort, insisting that his military was “winning” in their counteroffensive against Russia.
US military aid to Ukraine has totaled about $113 billion since Russia invaded in February last year. President Biden requested an additional $24 billion from Congress in August.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has expressed support for the Ukrainian war effort but also said he doesn’t want the aid to be a “blank check.”
Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has threatened to oust McCarthy for violating a “secret agreement” with President Biden over the weekend to provide funding to Ukraine in an upcoming bill.AP
Some hardline Republicans remain critical of McCarthy for his stance.
Rep. Right-leaning Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has threatened to oust McCarthy, accusing the speaker of canceling a “secret deal” with President Biden over the weekend to provide funding to Ukraine in an upcoming bill.
“Be it. Bring it. Let’s get it over with and let’s start governing,” McCarthy told CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday about the Gaetz trial.
“I will survive,” he also said. “You know, this is personal with Matt. Matt voted against the most conservative ability to protect our borders. He’s more interested in getting a TV interview than doing something.”
US military aid to Ukraine totals approximately $113 billion. Biden requested an additional $24 billion from Congress in August.Getty Images
Biden on Sunday indicated that he had reached an agreement with McCarthy to proceed with a new aid package for Ukraine, but did not provide details.
Asked about the prospects for any future deal with McCarthy after signing a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown the day before, the president replied: “We just did one on Ukraine.”
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged multiple questions from reporters about the existence of such an agreement, instead reiterating that there was clear “bipartisan support for Ukraine” in Congress.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has expressed support for the Ukrainian war effort but also said he doesn’t want the aid to be a “blank check.” AFP via Getty Images
“We appreciate the bipartisan support we’ve seen for Ukraine from the beginning, and we believe that will continue,” he said. “So that’s what we see, and that’s how we see this moving forward.”
He declined to answer questions about whether guarantees or secret agreements were made in private.
“I don’t think speakers need to do rear channels [communications]” said Jean-Pierre. “He himself said yesterday that, ‘I support being able to make sure that Ukraine has the weapons they need.'”
McCarthy flatly denied Biden’s claims, telling reporters when asked if a deal was done: “Really? By whom? I don’t know … There are no side deals in the future.”
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
