Biden Depletes Leftover Aid Funds for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has approved approximately $8 billion in military aid for Kiev, just days ahead of a spending deadline. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Next week marks the expiration of the US president’s congressional authorization to allocate funds.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden revealed nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine, utilizing the last of the funding approved by Congress. Recently, lawmakers chose not to extend certain funds' availability past the upcoming deadline.
This funding package comprises $2.4 billion from the Pentagon’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $5.5 billion through the Presidential Drawdown Authority. These mechanisms facilitate payments to arms manufacturers and allow for the direct withdrawal of weapons from American military stockpiles. The latter amount is set to expire with the end of the fiscal year in the US at the month’s close.
The White House had anticipated that Congress would approve the spending of PDA funds in the future. However, recent legislation did not include such provisions, reportedly due to pushback from Republican members who are skeptical about ongoing financial support for Ukraine.
Biden made the announcement regarding military aid in a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who is visiting the US to advocate for his ‘victory plan’ in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky expressed that he wanted the US president to be the first to review the proposal, as it is heavily reliant on American aid. According to the Wall Street Journal, US officials who have examined the plan found it “unimpressive.”
Biden stated that Ukraine would receive an additional Patriot surface-to-air system, more munitions and drones, and a new capability, the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. This glide bomb can reach a range of up to 130 kilometers when deployed from a high-flying aircraft.
Supporters of Ukraine have voiced criticism over the late drawdown of funds by Biden. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Missouri, claimed it was “typical of this administration to wait until the last possible moment to announce full use of the PDA.”
Zelensky’s visit also sparked backlash from some Republican members, especially after he criticized the Republican presidential nominees and toured an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania without the presence of any Republican officials.
Senior Republican figures have accused the Ukrainian leader of campaigning for the Democrats, alleging that the Biden administration has facilitated potential interference in the 2024 presidential election by organizing Zelensky’s visit and funding it with taxpayer money.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden revealed nearly $8 billion in military aid for Ukraine, utilizing the last of the funding approved by Congress. Recently, lawmakers chose not to extend certain funds' availability past the upcoming deadline.
This funding package comprises $2.4 billion from the Pentagon’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $5.5 billion through the Presidential Drawdown Authority. These mechanisms facilitate payments to arms manufacturers and allow for the direct withdrawal of weapons from American military stockpiles. The latter amount is set to expire with the end of the fiscal year in the US at the month’s close.
The White House had anticipated that Congress would approve the spending of PDA funds in the future. However, recent legislation did not include such provisions, reportedly due to pushback from Republican members who are skeptical about ongoing financial support for Ukraine.
Biden made the announcement regarding military aid in a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who is visiting the US to advocate for his ‘victory plan’ in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelensky expressed that he wanted the US president to be the first to review the proposal, as it is heavily reliant on American aid. According to the Wall Street Journal, US officials who have examined the plan found it “unimpressive.”
Biden stated that Ukraine would receive an additional Patriot surface-to-air system, more munitions and drones, and a new capability, the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon. This glide bomb can reach a range of up to 130 kilometers when deployed from a high-flying aircraft.
Supporters of Ukraine have voiced criticism over the late drawdown of funds by Biden. Senator Roger Wicker, a Republican from Missouri, claimed it was “typical of this administration to wait until the last possible moment to announce full use of the PDA.”
Zelensky’s visit also sparked backlash from some Republican members, especially after he criticized the Republican presidential nominees and toured an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania without the presence of any Republican officials.
Senior Republican figures have accused the Ukrainian leader of campaigning for the Democrats, alleging that the Biden administration has facilitated potential interference in the 2024 presidential election by organizing Zelensky’s visit and funding it with taxpayer money.
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
