The USA has released what may be its last military aid to Ukraine worth $250 million. Foreign Minister Blinken called on Parliament to act as “quickly as possible” to enable further aid.
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 includes anti-aircraft ammunition, additional ammunition for highly mobile artillery rocket systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank ammunition and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition for smaller weapons. “Our assistance has been critical in supporting our Ukrainian partners in defending their country and their freedom against Russian aggression,” Blinken said.
Dispute in the US Parliament blocks further aid
How US support for the country attacked by Russia will continue in the future is completely open. 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.
President Joe Biden had already asked Congress in October to provide an additional $61 billion for Ukraine. But 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.
Blink: “National security interest”
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.
On Wednesday, 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. Blinken called on Parliament to act as “quickly as possible” to allow further military aid. Helping Ukraine defend itself is “in the national security interest” of the US.
The USA is considered Ukraine’s most important ally in the fight against the Russian invasion. A long-term US failure would have serious consequences for Kiev. The Western allies of the USA and Ukraine are therefore looking to Washington with great concern. 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.