Biden asks Congress for an additional 2 24 billion for Ukraine: the Pentagon revealed details to the media
Kyiv • UNN
The Biden administration will appeal to Congress for additional funding for Ukraine in the amount of 2 24 billion. Of these, 8 8 billion. it will go to USAI, and 1 16 billion. - to replenish US warehouses for new aid packages.
The administration of US President Joe Biden will appeal to Congress with a request for additional funding to support Ukraine in the amount of 2 24 billion. This information was confirmed to voice of America by officials of the US Department of Defense, reports UNN.
Details
The Pentagon said that of this amount, 8 8 billion. they want to invest на 16 billion in the USAI program (an initiative to promote Ukraine's security). - to replenish US warehouses, so that it is possible to form new aid packages under the PDA (presidential powers Program) program.
The USAI program provides for ordering and purchasing weapons from manufacturers, after which they are sent to Ukraine. In this case, production and delivery may take a long time: up to a year or more, depending on the order.
Under the PDA program, the United States sends existing weapons to Ukraine from its own storage facilities, after which these storage facilities are replenished with new weapons. According to this mechanism, aid usually arrives in Ukraine much faster: within days or weeks. Congressional funding is required to replenish supplies and therefore be able to form PDA packages.
Additional funding is crucial for the US government to respond effectively to the situation in Ukraine by the end of fiscal year 2025, the Pentagon says.
"This funding not only supports Ukraine's struggle for its sovereignty and weakens Russia's military potential, but also strengthens US military readiness through modernization of our weapons systems and direct investment in our military-industrial base. In addition, these investments benefit the American economy by creating jobs and strengthening American production," a US Department of defense official told Voice of America.
The Biden administration has decided not to include support for Ukraine in a separate request, but will include it in the "package" exclusive funding bill, which also includes spending on other things for fiscal year 2025. Congress may consider this bill later this year.
In any case, approval of additional funding for Ukraine will require the approval of a majority of both Houses of Congress. At the moment, Democrats retain control of the Senate, while Republicans have the majority in the House of Representatives.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, who will largely depend on whether the bill will be put to a vote in the form proposed by the White House, reacted to the news about an additional request for 2 24 billion. to support Ukraine.
"The American people voted strongly for President Trump because he promised to end wars, not continue them endlessly. Such decisions are made by the next administration, not by the president who leaves office," he wrote on Platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
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At the moment, the United States has just under 9 9 billion left. on programs of armed support for Ukraine. About 6 6.8 billion. for the PDA program and 2 2 billion. on the SAI program. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with ABC that the United States will spend every dollar approved by Congress to help Ukraine until the end of Joe Biden's presidency on January 20.
"During these 50 days, we are going to do everything in our power to give Ukraine all possible tools to strengthen its position on the battlefield, so that they are stronger at the negotiating table," Sullivan said.
