The draft U.S. budget for 2027 does not currently include separate funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). This became known during hearings in the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, UNN reports.
Details
During the meeting, Senator Angus King of Maine raised the issue of further support for Ukraine and the previously allocated $400 million provided by the U.S. Congress last year.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, responding to the senator's question, stated that Washington expects greater financial participation from European countries in supporting Ukraine.
"We want Europe to step up, fund, and take on this burden. These are wealthy countries with a combined wealth of $20 trillion against a $2 trillion economy. Europe can step forward, Europe can fund this,"
In turn, the Acting Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Department of Defense, Jules Hurst, confirmed that funding for the USAI program is absent from the document.
"Yes, that is correct. There is no USAI funding in this budget," Hurst said.
Recall
On April 20, the Pentagon released $400 million in funding for Ukraine that had been previously approved by Congress, following remarks from lawmakers regarding the delay of the funds.
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