The Pentagon said that by the end of Joe Biden's term as US President, it intends to use the remaining funds for programs to support Ukraine. Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said this at a briefing on November 7, UNN reports.
Details
According to her, the US Department of Defense currently has about $4 billion for the Presidential Decision Maker (PDA) program and about $2 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Under the first program, as Voice of America explains, Ukraine receives weapons directly from US warehouses, while under the second program, weapons are ordered from manufacturers.
"In terms of existing stockpiles, I mean what you're seeing us continue to do is send out those presidential drawdown packages. That will continue. We still have approximately $2 billion left in USAI as well that we can commit. So you're going to continue to see packages roll out in the coming weeks before the end of this administration. That is consistent with how we've been doing this in the past. It's something that we've done on a pretty regular almost weekly basis," Singh said.
She noted that it is not only the United States that supports Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine. "And on top of that, Ukraine has bicameral and bipartisan support in Congress. So there is an administration change that's going to happen in January, but support for Ukraine remains strong," the Pentagon spokeswoman emphasized.
"When it comes to presidential drawdown packages, some things can arrive within days and weeks. Some items in those packages take longer. It does matter on what's available on our shelves. You're going to see us continue to draw that down pretty frequently. Could there be things that go out beyond January 20th? I can't say for certain right now, but we're committed to drawing down those PDA's. The USAI contracts, those could go for longer, but again, those are commitments and contracts that this administration has signed, so we would expect those to be upheld," Singh said.
When asked by the Voice of America whether new types of weapons should be expected in the next few months in the US aid packages, Sabrina Singh replied that the Defense Ministry always considers Ukraine's current needs.
"We are always looking at the capabilities that Ukraine needs on the battlefield, that the Ukrainian military can use, and that will make the biggest difference. Today, I don't have a set of new tools or new things that we are looking at, but every time we announce an aid package or a new commitment, it is an investment in the success of Ukrainians fighting on the battlefield," Singh said.
After the change of power in the United States, the new administration will work with Congress to formulate a policy on future support for Ukraine, the deputy Pentagon spokeswoman added.
США направили головного інспектора для моніторингу допомоги Україні04.11.24, 22:09