Pentagon gives exact date for when military aid to Ukraine will run out
(Baonghean.vn) - According to Bloomberg, the Pentagon said it will run out of money to replace the weapons sent to Ukraine by December 30, unless the US Congress approves new funding. This is the first time the US Department of Defense has given an exact date when it will run out of money.
The source cited information provided by the Pentagon's chief financial officer Michael McCord in a letter dated December 15, revealing that the US Department of Defense is spending the last $1.07 billion to buy new weapons and equipment to replace those taken from the stockpile and sent to Ukraine. Their accounts will be empty 15 days later - on December 30.
“Once these funds are spent, the Department will exhaust the financial resources available to us to provide security assistance to Ukraine,” Mr. McCord wrote in a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate defense policy and appropriations committees.
The letter will add pressure on Congress to break the impasse over the more than $60 billion President Joe Biden has requested to help Ukraine repel Russian forces. Republican lawmakers say the package must include steps to tighten security on the U.S. border with Mexico or they will not approve it. Biden administration representatives are trying to negotiate a compromise supplemental spending package with senators.
“In the absence of congressional action on additional funding, the Department expects to be able to implement only one additional funding package to protect the readiness of the U.S. military,” McCord said.
On December 12, the Biden administration announced that it would send Ukraine a $200 million package of US supplies including artillery shells, small arms ammunition and other weapons.
Once that is done, the Pentagon will be able to send another aid package to Ukraine, Mr. McCord said.
While the letter puts pressure on members of Congress to reach an agreement on funding for Ukraine, it also means that House Republicans who left for Christmas without acting on the funding will have time to address the issue when they return after January 1.
A formal four-page request sent along with the letters provides some details about the equipment the Pentagon plans to add, which ranges from high-end weapons to common supplies:
+ $635 million in the Army's missile procurement account for spending described as classified.
+ $210 million to purchase ammunition, explosives, fuses and replacement primers for the 155mm M795 super-explosive artillery shell.
+ $129 million in top secret funding for the Navy to replace weapons sent from the "Other Missiles" budget category.
+ $17 million to replace specialized “acoustic sensors” provided by the US Special Operations Command for Ukrainian vehicles.
+ $4.3 million in funding for US Air Force operations and maintenance to replace tactical vehicles, fencing, and metal barriers sent to Ukraine.
+ $737,000 to purchase replacement camouflage jackets for the US Air Force.
