Defense Department officials believe the billions may last only a few months.
The US Congress refused to include additional funding for Ukraine in the budget it approved over the weekend for 45 days. However, according to Defense Department officials, the department still has about $5.2 billion in its coffers to supply weapons and other security assistance to Ukraine. The newspaper tells about it The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
According to the WSJ, the amount is roughly the same as the president Joe Biden the administration has given Ukraine in the last six months.
However, according to ministry officials, it is unclear how long the amount of money will be enough to support Ukraine. A number of factors affect how quickly aid flows to Ukraine, and officials believe it may last only a few months, the WSJ reports.
The funds intended for replacing the fleet have dwindled to a fraction
News agency AP on the other hand, says that the US Department of Defense has warned Congress that the dollars earmarked for replacing the equipment sent to Ukraine are dwindling.
According to AP, the ministry has already had to slow down deliveries of equipment intended for US soldiers. AP bases its information on a letter sent by the ministry to congressional leaders, which the news agency has obtained.
Pentagon finance chief Michael McCord told House and Senate leaders in a letter that $1.6 billion of the $25.9 billion to replace equipment sent to Ukraine remains.
According to McCord, the United States no longer has the resources to support Ukraine in the long term.
– We have already had to slow down the maintenance of our own forces in order to prepare, because the future of funding is uncertain, McCord wrote in the letter.
– If the replenishments cannot be delivered in time, it may affect the readiness of our army.
According to McCord, without additional funding, the United States will have to delay or reduce arms deliveries to Ukraine. According to him, they are “critical and urgent now that Russia is preparing to launch a winter offensive”.
President Joe Biden said on Sunday that although support for Ukraine will continue for the time being, time is running out.
– Under no circumstances can we allow US support for Ukraine to be suspended. We have time, but not much, and the sense of urgency is overwhelming, Biden said.
The subject can be discussed until Wednesday, October 4 at 11 p.m.