The US government is providing Ukraine with additional military aid worth 250 million US dollars (226.80 million euros) – this means that the US funds approved so far are already largely exhausted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this was the last package for this year. The aid includes, among other things, ammunition – including 15 million rounds for smaller weapons and ammunition for air defense or the American Himars-type multiple rocket launcher.
“Our assistance has been critical in supporting our Ukrainian partners in defending their country and freedom against Russian aggression,” Blinken said. How US support for the country attacked by Russia will continue in the future is completely open to question.
US aid exhausted
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 exhausted by the end of the year. The provision of further funds is currently being carried out by a Dispute in the US Parliament between Republicans and Democrats blocked.
Republicans are blocking the approval of new aid funds because, in return, they demand that US President Joe Biden tighten US asylum policy.
War in Ukraine: all current developments in the live blog
Uncertain agreement
It is unclear if, how and when both parties will agree on new financing next year. Biden dimmed prospects for a quick approval of more U.S. 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.
Meanwhile, the Democrat can try reallocate funds from other areas to Ukraine. However, this means that it cannot provide the amounts that would be needed to provide lasting support to Ukraine on a large scale.
The military budget approved 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.
Most important ally
The US is considered Ukraine's most important ally in the fight against the Russian invasion. Since the start of the war in February 2022, the United States, led by Biden, has provided or promised more than $44 billion in military aid to Kiev.