Biden administration rushes military aid to Ukraine ahead of Trump's inauguration
The White House plans to accelerate the delivery of the remaining defense aid to Ukraine amidst concerns that the Trump administration may halt previously approved assistance. However, a major challenge in expediting this aid is that the US can only provide equipment currently available in the military's inventory.
Politico reports this with reference to two officials in the administration of the White House.
"The Biden administration is planning to rush the last of over $6 billion remaining in Ukraine security assistance out the door by Inauguration Day, as the outgoing team prepares for the weapons flow to end once President-elect Donald Trump takes office," the message states.
As noted, the current administration fears that the flow of weapons may stop when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The sources said such a plan is currently the only option the White House has for continuing military aid to Ukraine. However, significant problems are pointed out in this connection.
"Usually, after the announcement of the aid package, ammunition, and equipment reach Ukraine within several months, so everything that will be sent in the coming weeks, most likely, will not have time to arrive in full," the publication explains.
The publication notes that the next US president may stop supplies before they reach Ukraine.
Another obstacle is the Pentagon's lack of ready-made weapons at its disposal. While the allocated funds reimburse the Defense Department for aid to Ukraine, how quickly, for example, artillery shells can be produced is also of significant importance.
Although the allocated money reimburses the Pentagon for the cost of this equipment, it all depends on how quickly new artillery shells and weapons can be produced or contracts awarded to replace them.
"We have been sending whatever industry can produce each month, but the problem is you can only send these things as they are produced. The administration could dip into the stockpiles and send equipment more quickly. Still, it's unclear the Pentagon would want to do that since it would affect its own readiness," Mark Cancian, a former DOD budget official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said.
Pentagon spokesman Charlie Dietz emphasized that the US Department of Defense will remain "on the path of continuing to provide authorized assistance in support of Ukraine."
Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said it would continue to provide approved aid to support Ukraine.
"We expect further assistance to be released in the coming weeks," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Charlie Dietz told the publication.
Politico also mentioned that the $6 billion mentioned is what's left of the $61 billion allocated to Ukraine in April. This funding is split into two parts: $4.3 billion to replenish the US Army's current reserves and $2.1 billion for contracts with American defense companies to provide weapons.
For reference:
The most recent American presidential election took place on November 5. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump were the two main contenders for the role of head of state.
By the morning of November 6, voting for the presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives elections had almost finished in all states across the US. In six important "swing" states, the leader of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, is currently in the lead. As of now, he is set to be the winner of the election, surpassing the Democratic Party's representative and current vice president, Kamala Harris. He has reached the required 270 votes.
Along with the presidential election, the US also held elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives on November 5. Mike Johnson, the representative for Louisiana's 4th district, was re-elected as the House speaker and will continue to serve in the upcoming session of Congress. The Republican Party now holds the majority in the US Senate after the elections for the upper chamber.
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