The Biden administration informed Congress on Monday that funding to help Ukraine in its war with Russia would run out by the end of the year as negotiators reached an impasse over future military and humanitarian aid – despite recently published research showing around 90% of the money spent never left US shores.
A Nov. 29 report by the American Enterprise Institute found that about $60 billion of the $68 billion in military and other aid approved by Congress since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has stayed in the United States to build new weapons for the US military, replace equipment lama sent to help Kyiv.
The weapons and other materials, AEI found, are being produced in states like Florida, Ohio, and Missouri — where lawmakers like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) either expressed skepticism or outright opposed further spending in Ukraine.
Congress has reached an impasse amid negotiations to approve more US military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and to replenish domestic stockpiles. AP
That political reality isn’t lost on White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young, who explained in a letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that both strong and politically weak Republican states would benefit from more further. massive.
“While we cannot predict exactly which US companies will be awarded new contracts,” he wrote, “we do know that the funding will be used to acquire advanced capabilities to defend against attacks on civilians in Israel and Ukraine—for example, air defense systems are built. in Alabama, Texas and Georgia and significant subcomponents obtained from nearly all 50 states.
“We will modernize important ammunition and equipment such as the Javelin that is made in Alabama; The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) is made in West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas; tactical vehicles are made in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana; and 155mm cannonballs made in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Iowa and many other states.”
President Biden in October proposed a $105 billion package, which would provide funding for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but Republicans say the border security provision is weak. AP
In total, Young wrote, about half of the proposed spending package — more than $50 billion — would go to America’s defense industrial base, supporting investment in manufacturing in 35 states.
With four weeks left in 2023, senior White House officials are stressing the importance of renewing funding for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s military as the second anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches in February.
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On Monday, Young warned Johnson that Congress’s approach to President Biden’s additional $105 billion request will determine whether the US will “fight for freedom around the world or … ignore the lessons we’ve learned from history and let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and autocracy come first.”
With four weeks left in 2024, senior Biden administration officials stressed the importance of renewing funding for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s military next year. AP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have agreed that further military aid for Kyiv’s war effort is needed. Reuters
“I want to be clear: Without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to get more weapons and equipment for Ukraine and provide equipment from the US military stockpile,” he said. “There is no magic pot of funds available to meet these times. We’re out of money—and almost out of time.”
Young’s letter indicated that $67 billion, or 60% of the appropriated funds, went to “strengthen” the US defense and weapons stockpile, while another $27.2 billion, or 24%, helped Ukraine’s economy and security in response to Russian attacks on exports.
The current aid system represents a win-win for both the US and Ukraine, a senior defense official told The Post, as Kyiv quickly obtains the weapons it needs and Washington stocks the latest version of the weaponry in preparation for future conflicts.
The letter states that $67 billion, or 60%, of the allocated funds “support” US arms and defense stockpiles, while $27.2 billion, or 24%, helps Ukraine’s economy and security. AFP via Getty Images Another $2.3 billion in emergency funding from the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported humanitarian issues. Reuters
Currently, only 3% of the total funds received by the Pentagon are still available. Almost all of the $2.3 billion in emergency money given to the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) — including $500 million specifically for Ukrainian refugees — has also been used.
President Biden in October proposed the package to provide aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, but congressional Republicans insisted on including provisions to improve US border security, over Democrats’ objections.
“More than 10,200 people crossed the border illegally yesterday, one of the highest days in history and unprecedented for December,” Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the GOP’s chief negotiator on the legislation, said. said to X Sunday morning.
The final tranche of funding “supports the needs of vulnerable populations around the world who have been victimized by Putin’s use of food as a weapon,” according to Young. PRESS SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images
“We continue to work to find solutions that will protect our national security, stop human trafficking and prevent cartels from exploiting glaring weaknesses in our laws. That is the goal & we will continue to work until we succeed.”
Johnson said in a statement Monday that the Biden administration has so far “failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolving the conflict, or a plan to ensure accountability for the aid adequately provided by the American taxpayer.” .”
“Meanwhile, the Administration is constantly ignoring the calamities on our own borders,” he said. “House Republicans have decided that any package of additional national security must begin with our own borders. We believe both issues can be agreed upon if Senate Democrats and the White House will negotiate reasonably.”
Johnson said the Biden administration has so far “failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolving the conflict, or a plan to ensure adequate accountability for aid provided by the American taxpayer.” ” AFP via Getty Images
The House Speaker separately approved $14.3 billion last month in military aid to support Israel’s war effort against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, but the bill has yet to be taken up in the Senate.
The $61.4 billion the White House is requesting for Ukraine aid is “not a wish list,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby insisted to reporters on Friday, but rather “a dollar figure derived from informed negotiations with our Ukrainians.” partners about what they need, and we need that help right away so we can provide them with help in a disruptive way.”
The Pentagon last month began reducing its spending in Ukraine, reducing both the rate and the amount in the aid package.
The House speaker separately approved $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel to support the Jewish state’s war effort against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, which did not advance in the Senate. AFP via Getty Images
“You’ve seen the security package get smaller in the last month or so because again, we’re running out of runway and we’re running out of checks in the checkbook,” Kirby said last week. “We must be able to continue that aid.
The administration believes that continued funding is essential to defeating Russia, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress last month that “if the US does not continue to support Ukraine, they will not succeed.”
“If we don’t get support from Congress, the message that will be sent around the world about how important Ukraine is – and how much the United States and our leadership can deliver for our partners around the world – will be loud. and obviously and very unfortunate,” said Kirby.
“I can’t see anyone in this country, no matter who you vote for, no matter what party you represent, who can sit up at night and think that’s a good thing to do, to let Putin think you can get away with it. self with this … because we are not ready to come together and support couples who are literally fighting for their lives.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
