The administration of US President Joe Biden has asked Congress to extend the expired authority to allocate arms to Ukraine in the amount of $5.8 billion, but if lawmakers refuse, the White House could announce the allocation of a one-time aid package to Kiev in this volume by the end of September, the Hill newspaper reports, citing sources.
On Friday, U.S. defense spokesman Patrick Ryder said the Pentagon has $5.9 billion left to assist Ukraine as part of the PDA program, and that nearly all of these funds will be burned if the U.S. Congress does not renew related authorities through fiscal year 2025.
“The Biden administration has asked Congress to extend the president’s authority to cancel arms sales to Ukraine through 2025 to make about $5.8 billion available beyond Sept. 30.” – writes the newspaper.
It is clarified that a corresponding provision should be included in the resolution on the continuation of government funding after the end of the current fiscal year, which expires in the United States on September 30.
According to the publication’s interlocutor, if the White House fails to achieve an extension of the authority to release weapons from US warehouses, the Biden administration may announce a one-time allocation of $5.8 billion in military assistance until October 1. After that, Washington will send the specified assistance to kyiv in parts.
“The big problem with the management of support for Ukraine is one of the many unnecessary consequences of the political games currently being played around the resolution,” — Hill quotes his interlocutor.
