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Pentagon explains why Biden's office did not use all funds allocated to help Ukraine

Pentagon explains why Biden's office did not use all funds allocated to help Ukraine Photo: Patrick S. Ryder, Pentagon spokesperson (facebook.com/Patrick-S-Ryder)
Author: Liliana Oleniak

The United States Congress has maintained bipartisan support for Ukraine. When it comes to helping Kyiv, Washington must balance its own readiness needs with what it can do, Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

Ryder said that it was important to understand that it was the authority of the government to use those funds. He added that he would not speculate about what the next administration might do, but noted that there was strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress. He also stated that they fully recognized the importance of Ukraine's struggle for the security of everyone.

Answering the question of whether the United States has not exhausted its arms in terms of assistance to Ukraine, Ryder said that the United States always needs to balance its own needs with what it is willing to do for Kyiv.

He added that it was important to emphasize that it was not just the United States, but an international effort, backed by 50 countries that had come together to support Ukraine.

US assistance to Ukraine

On December 30, 2024, the United States announced $3.4 billion in aid to Ukraine. At the time, the support package included air defense systems, artillery, and other critical weapons.

On January 8, the US announced the final package of support for Kyiv from the administration of US President Joe Biden, worth $500 million. At the same time, about $3.8 billion, which had been earmarked by Congress, remains unused.