Biden's Record US Defense Budget Excludes Ukraine Aid
The $895 billion spending bill prioritizes domestic concerns and notably excludes allocations for US allies. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The $895 billion spending bill emphasizes internal American matters while omitting financial assistance to allies.
Ukraine seems to have been excluded from US President Joe Biden’s latest defense budget, which is set at a record $895 billion and primarily addresses domestic concerns. In contrast, last year's National Defense Authorization Act included allocations for the Pentagon to supply arms and ammunition to Kiev.
This week, Biden officially approved bill H.R. 5009 – known as the ‘Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025’ – which was scheduled to pass in October.
The bill faced delays owing to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans in Congress regarding expenditure allocations, particularly the amount designated for supporting allies like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
After months of negotiations, a bipartisan agreement was reached, and Biden signed the bill into law on Monday, despite the inclusion of controversial clauses, such as banning the military healthcare system from covering “gender dysphoria treatments.”
While the new budget surpasses last year's by $9 billion, it notably lacks any financial provisions for Ukraine. However, it does include initiatives aimed at bolstering US military presence and defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily targeting "counter China." Beijing has denounced the bill, highlighting its "negative content on China" and perceived exaggeration of the ‘China threat’ narrative.
Nonetheless, Ukraine is expected to receive financial support from Washington before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, as reports indicate the White House is preparing a separate military aid package for Ukraine. This package is anticipated to encompass missiles for air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and additional supplies, though specifics remain uncertain. Concerns linger about the future of US assistance for Ukraine, as Trump has voiced doubts about maintaining military aid.
According to Reuters, the Biden administration is preparing to reveal its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, estimated at around $1.2 billion, soon.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently noted that Washington has provided approximately $100 billion in financial and military support to Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The Biden administration has vowed a "massive surge" in arms deliveries to Ukraine during the final weeks of its term.
Russia has cautioned that no amount of Western aid will alter the course of its military operation or affect the ultimate outcome of the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has suggested that Biden is attempting to leave behind a “difficult legacy” characterized by increased tensions with Russia.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ukraine seems to have been excluded from US President Joe Biden’s latest defense budget, which is set at a record $895 billion and primarily addresses domestic concerns. In contrast, last year's National Defense Authorization Act included allocations for the Pentagon to supply arms and ammunition to Kiev.
This week, Biden officially approved bill H.R. 5009 – known as the ‘Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025’ – which was scheduled to pass in October.
The bill faced delays owing to disagreements between Democrats and Republicans in Congress regarding expenditure allocations, particularly the amount designated for supporting allies like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
After months of negotiations, a bipartisan agreement was reached, and Biden signed the bill into law on Monday, despite the inclusion of controversial clauses, such as banning the military healthcare system from covering “gender dysphoria treatments.”
While the new budget surpasses last year's by $9 billion, it notably lacks any financial provisions for Ukraine. However, it does include initiatives aimed at bolstering US military presence and defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily targeting "counter China." Beijing has denounced the bill, highlighting its "negative content on China" and perceived exaggeration of the ‘China threat’ narrative.
Nonetheless, Ukraine is expected to receive financial support from Washington before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, as reports indicate the White House is preparing a separate military aid package for Ukraine. This package is anticipated to encompass missiles for air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and additional supplies, though specifics remain uncertain. Concerns linger about the future of US assistance for Ukraine, as Trump has voiced doubts about maintaining military aid.
According to Reuters, the Biden administration is preparing to reveal its final Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative package, estimated at around $1.2 billion, soon.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently noted that Washington has provided approximately $100 billion in financial and military support to Kiev since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The Biden administration has vowed a "massive surge" in arms deliveries to Ukraine during the final weeks of its term.
Russia has cautioned that no amount of Western aid will alter the course of its military operation or affect the ultimate outcome of the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has suggested that Biden is attempting to leave behind a “difficult legacy” characterized by increased tensions with Russia.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
