American diplomat says re-adopting lend-lease law for Ukraine needed
Photo: Kurt Volker (Getty Images)
The United States did not use the lend-lease law adopted in the spring of 2022 to help Ukraine. Kurt Volker, an American diplomat and former US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine, believes that a similar law could be adopted again.
"I would also like to see is new legislation to authorize lend-lease. Because that should be hundreds of billions available to Ukraine to borrow at Ukraine's discretion," he says.
According to Volker, there have been no arms deliveries under the law on the lend-lease. "We never used it. It expired October 31st, 2023. It could be reintroduced, it could be reauthorized, and I think it would be a very smart idea in addition to the assistance package and the supplemental," the American diplomat adds.
Lend-Lease
The Lend-Lease Act was signed into law by US President Joe Biden on May 9, 2022. Among other things, it expanded the powers of the US president in agreements on the supply of military aid to Ukraine. It allows for the loan or leasing of military equipment under simplified export control procedures.
It allowed the White House to provide Ukraine with weapons, equipment, ammunition, and dual-use products under an expedited procedure, i.e., without waiting for a special allocation of funds by the US Congress.
The last time the Lend-Lease program was in effect was during World War II when American military aid was provided to the enemies of Nazi Germany, primarily the United Kingdom and the USSR.
At the same time, the United States did not provide Ukraine with weapons under the lend-lease program, as there was no need for it. All aid was provided free of charge.
However, since the end of 2023, the United States has effectively suspended aid to Ukraine, as a $60 billion aid package has been blocked in the U.S. House of Representatives.
