U.S. DoD Exhausts Ukraine Aid Funds, Implore Congress for More

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh urgently urged Congress to swiftly approve President Joe Biden's proposed August supplemental budget, aimed at meeting Ukraine's critical battlefield needs.

During a press conference held today, Singh emphasized the growing urgency for Congress to approve the budget, stating, "The urgent need for this package to get approved and passed by Congress continues to grow." As a consequence of the delay, she revealed that the Department of Defense (DOD) has been compelled to ration its support to Ukraine.

The DOD has already utilized 95% of the initial $62.3 billion allocated for Ukraine's supplemental resources since the full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022. Notably, all funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) has been exhausted, leaving only a small amount of presidential drawdown authority funding. Singh lamented that these dwindling funds have resulted in diminishing support packages sent to Ukraine.

To address the ongoing crisis, Singh highlighted an upcoming meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group later this month. Despite financial constraints, she affirmed that both allies and partners, including the United States, remain committed to supporting Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a news conference in Tokyo during a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers. He asserted that the G7 has played a leading role in mobilizing and sustaining global support for Ukraine.

In outlining a plan for the future, Blinken emphasized the United States' crucial role in helping Ukraine simultaneously achieve four key objectives. These include reclaiming territorial control, establishing a world-class military force for long-term deterrence, kick-starting economic recovery, and accelerating the reform process to facilitate Ukraine's path to the European Union and attract investment.