The US government has given its approval for an additional $250m of military aid to be provided to Ukraine. This new package includes various types of weaponry such as air defense systems, artillery, small arms ammunition, and anti-tank weapons.
However, it is important to note that this funding is the last available without fresh approval from Congress, and discussions in Congress have currently reached a standstill. Ukraine has expressed concerns about the impact on its war efforts and public finances if further aid from Western countries is not received.
With a stagnant counter-offensive in the eastern part of the country and an unchanged line of control, Ukrainian officials are now facing the possibility of a reduction in aid from their allies in Washington and Europe. While there is broad support for the Ukrainian war effort in the US Congress, Republicans have halted an agreement on further arms, insisting that stricter security measures on the US-Mexico border must be included in any military aid deal.
A recent emergency spending measure that would have provided $50bn for Ukraine and $14bn for Israel was defeated in the Senate, with all Republicans voting against it, along with Bernie Sanders, an independent who typically aligns with Democrats but has expressed concerns about Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Even a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to sway lawmakers.
The announcement made on Wednesday states that the weapons will be sourced from existing Pentagon stocks, a decision that does not require Congressional approval. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the urgency of Congress taking swift action to advance national security interests by assisting Ukraine in defending itself and securing its future. He also highlighted the critical role that US assistance has played in supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
In addition to these developments, it is worth noting that earlier this month, a €50bn aid package from the European Union for Ukraine was blocked by Hungary.
Ukraine is currently grappling with a significant budget deficit of $43 billion, and government officials are expressing concerns about the potential delay in salaries and pensions for government employees if additional aid from Western countries does not arrive promptly. Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister, emphasized the crucial importance of support from international partners in an interview with the Financial Times.
She stressed the urgent need for this assistance. The Financial Times also reported that discussions were underway regarding a smaller aid package that would not require approval from Hungary and could potentially be implemented in early February. Meanwhile, as Ukraine’s Western allies have reduced their funding, Russian forces have continued their military operations in the eastern part of the country.
On Tuesday, they successfully seized control of the strategically significant town of Mariinka, which has been a focal point of conflict for over a year.
BBC
