The US is running out of money for Ukraine and that could hinder the fight against Russia, the White House warns
President Joe Biden has requested a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs.
Washington: The Biden administration sent an urgent warning to Congress on Monday about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Ukraine, saying that without this aid, Kiev’s war efforts to defend itself against Russian invasion could come to a standstill.
In a letter to leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate that was publicly released, Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, warned that the US will run out of money to buy weapons and to send aid to Ukraine. the battlefield.
She added that the US has already run out of money it used to support the Ukrainian economy, and that “if Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting.”
“We’re out of money – and running out of time,” she wrote.
President Joe Biden has sought a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs, but it has been met with a difficult reception on Capitol Hill, where skepticism is growing about the size of aid to Ukraine and where even Republicans support the funding . are pushing for changes in U.S.-Mexico border policy to stem the flow of migrants as a condition for the aid.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party-controlled House has passed a standalone aid package for Israel, which is waging a war with Hamas in Gaza, while the White House insists all priorities must be met.
Congress has already appropriated $111 billion to help Ukraine, including $67 billion in military procurement, $27 billion for economic and civilian aid, and $10 billion for humanitarian assistance. Young wrote that all but about 3% of military funding had been depleted by mid-November.
The Biden administration has said it has slowed the pace of any military aid to Kiev in recent weeks in an effort to shore up supplies until Congress approves more funding.
“We have run out of money to support Ukraine in this fight,” Young wrote. “This is not a problem for next year. Now is the time to help a democratic Ukraine fight against Russian aggression. It is time for Congress to act.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated in a statement Monday that House Republicans will push for changes in border policy as part of a relief bill for Ukraine, and he argued that Biden “has failed to to substantively address my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolve the conflict, or a plan to adequately account for the aid provided by American taxpayers granted.”
The letter followed a classified briefing on Capitol Hill on Nov. 29 for top leaders of the House and Senate on the need for the aid. Defense and other national security officials have briefed the “big four” congressional leaders as Congress debates Biden’s nearly $106 billion funding package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine but has been mired by Republican demands for changes to U.S. border security. Mexico.
“They were clear that Ukraine needs the help quickly — and that includes our military,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in an interview with The Associated Press.