Biden administration wants to save billions in Ukraine aid by September 30 - Reuters
Photo: Joe Biden, President of the United States (Getty Images)
The Biden administration is urgently negotiating with Congress to secure authorization for the use of $6 billion in defense aid for Ukraine. The issue must be resolved by September 30, the deadline for this funding, according to Reuters.
The Biden administration’s Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a key component of the $61 billion aid package approved in April, allows the US President to transfer defense goods and services from US stocks in response to emergencies.
This PDA has been the primary mechanism through which the Biden administration has delivered weapons to Ukraine, Reuters reports.
The news agency also noted that on August 23, the White House announced a new $125 million defense aid package for Ukraine, including missiles for air defense, equipment to counter drones, anti-tank missiles, and ammunition.
However, most of the $7.8 billion allocated under the PDA by the April legislation has not yet been utilized.
Consequently, US officials are working to ensure that the remaining $6 billion does not expire on September 30, marking the end of the US fiscal year 2024.
Sources close to the negotiations told Reuters that the State Department hopes to include an extension of the PDA’s authority in a Continuing Resolution, a short-term spending bill that both the Senate and House of Representatives must pass this month to avoid a government shutdown after September 30.
Optimism about resolution
Congressional staff, speaking anonymously to Western media representatives, expressed high hopes for a resolution, given the strong bipartisan support for aiding Ukraine.
Reuters also notes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit the US in September, where he plans to present Biden with a victory plan.
Additionally, Zelenskyy is anticipated to participate in the September 6 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format.
Potential slowdown in arms transfers
Congressional staff also told Reuters that the reasons behind the slowdown in arms transfers to Ukraine this year remain unclear. However, they suggested that part of the slowdown may be due to Pentagon concerns about depleting its weapon stocks as the arms industry faces supply chain issues.
Despite this, lawmakers from both parties supporting Ukraine emphasized the importance of continuing aid.
US assistance
It is worth noting that Congress has approved nearly $175 billion in aid and military support for Ukraine and allied countries since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
A significant portion of this aid has come in the form of long-term funding for US defense production, as the Pentagon seeks to replenish equipment sent to Ukraine.
Contingency plan
Sources told Reuters that while negotiations with Congress continue, the Biden administration is considering a contingency plan. This plan would involve the State Department making a significant announcement regarding the PDA before September 30, effectively utilizing the remaining $6 billion before the deadline.
According to the plan, in case of an emergency, delivery timelines for weapons and equipment would be extended, allowing for a more gradual transfer of resources to Ukraine.
Congressional aides and US administration officials also noted another available resource: approximately $3 billion in PDA authority resulting from a Pentagon accounting error. These funds remain available for aiding Ukraine, with no expiration date.
Earlier, on August 9, Ukraine received a US military aid package.
Additionally, Volodymyr Fesenko, head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies, previously discussed with RBC-Ukraine what is the problem with the $50 billion in aid to Ukraine from the West.
