Pentagon can allocate 4.2 billion dollars to Ukraine: What is the complexity
Photo: Pentagon spokesman General Patrick Ryder (Getty Images)
The Department of Defense of the United States has the formal authority to provide military assistance to Ukraine worth 4.2 billion dollars. However, the Pentagon cannot transfer the funds to a country at war without Congress's decision, said Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder during a video briefing.
"We have the authority to spend that (4.2 billion dollars) from available funds but wouldn't have the ability to replenish the stocks by taking money out -- or taking stuff out of our inventory," said Ryder.
In response to a clarifying question, he added that the funds for aid have already been spent. This concerns the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program, which involves sending weapons from stocks.
Ryder also reported on the work with Congress on this matter. The Pentagon called on Congress to approve the additional funding proposed by the White House.
Situation regarding U.S. assistance for Ukraine
Earlier yesterday, on January 4th, the White House announced that the United States no longer has funds to provide Ukraine with new packages of military assistance. According to National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the latest security assistance package for which "we have authorization for funds."
At the end of 2023, Congress failed to approve the request of U.S. President Joe Biden to allocate over 100 billion dollars for national security needs, including over 60 billion dollars for Ukraine.
The main stumbling block was the Republicans who refused to support the initiative. They demanded that the White House incorporate their proposals for strengthening border security into its request.
It was also reported that on December 27, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States had provided Ukraine with a military assistance package of 250 million dollars, which could be delivered soon.
