In fact, we are not talking about money, but about the right to take away 4 billion worth of weapons from the US Army, which the Pentagon itself does not really like.
The Pentagon still has about $4 billion previously allocated for military support to Kyiv under the so-called “presidential powers for Ukraine.” Now American officials are considering whether to use this money, writes CNN.
As “numerous US defense officials” told reporters, this is not about “real money”, but about the authority to transfer military equipment to Ukraine from the American army’s own reserves. Until now, the Pentagon has not wanted to touch this “stash” until Congress provides funding for the purchase of new weapons for the American army instead of the ones that will be sent to Ukraine.
According to sources, military officials feared a decline in the combat readiness of American troops if they were not immediately compensated for everything that would go to the Ukrainians. But with Ukraine increasingly in need of US military assistance, and Congress unable to approve a new program, the Pentagon is thinking about using at least part of the $4 billion that Joe Biden has the authority to use.
No decisions have been made yet, officials emphasized. But talk of this option and other potential “Plan Bs” has become increasingly pressing over the past few weeks as the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine grows more dire, officials said.
An unnamed Pentagon official told CNN that the next aid package for Ukraine, if it arrives, “will certainly include critical munitions.” Discussions are also ongoing regarding how and where to move military equipment in order to immediately transfer it to Ukraine as soon as permission to do so is received.
The problem with American aid to Ukraine
As wrote, the latest package of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States worth up to $250 million was announced on December 27. However, Ukraine continues to receive small quantities of weapons that were previously financed, but were ordered from industry and not taken from army warehouses.
The day before, a meeting was held at the White House with the participation of President Biden and the leaders of Congress, during which American deputies were informed about the problems of Ukraine at the front and the critical importance of Ukraine for US security. However, after this meeting, Republicans again stated that the issue of the border with Mexico was still more important to them.
