Ukraine upset by idea of US aid being loan package
Kiev considers the idea of US assistance to Ukraine in the form of loans to be offensive, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing sources close to the Office of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
US Senator Lindsey Graham said that Washington should only provide assistance to Kiev in the form of loans, as the United States itself has accumulated a huge national debt.
According to Politico, although the idea has been discussed in the US Congress for several weeks, Kiev has not been specifically informed about it. The source noted that he has not heard of any specific proposals on this subject being sent to Kiev.
However, Kiev generally dislikes the idea, Politico writes. According to sources, in Ukraine, this move is considered "somewhat offensive" due to security guarantees under the Budapest Memorandum.
The bill is uncertain.
Despite the US allocating a “unique” $300 million aid package to Kiev last week, the US Congress has yet to agree on a $60 billion aid bill, including aid to Ukraine. The White House noted that the unannounced aid would only be enough to support the Ukrainian military for “a few weeks.”
Amid the uncertainty over the bill allocating money to Kiev, which has been going on for several months, House Republicans are preparing their own plan to help Ukraine in the form of loans or Lend-Lease, rather than grants as has been the case so far, according to US media.
