US senators push to speed up delivery of critical ammunition to Ukraine
Photo: A US Senate session in Washington (Getty Images)
The initiative was put forward by Democratic Senator from Virginia Tim Kaine and Republican Senator from Texas John Cornyn. The bill is titled the Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense Act.
The authors of the legislation say it is designed to ensure more stable and timely deliveries of large batches of ammunition needed by Ukraine to counter Russian aggression.
It is also intended to encourage European allies to invest more in supporting Ukraine and to expand the capabilities of the US defense industry.
Why do senators propose changing the rules
"Ukrainians have demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability on the battlefield, and I’ve been proud that since the war began, the US, NATO, and our other partners have come together to support Ukraine’s defense in the face of Putin’s brutal invasion," said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees.
According to him, the new mechanism will allow more effective support for Ukraine through closer cooperation with allies and faster delivery of necessary ammunition.
Cornyn, in turn, stressed that the current arms export approval process is too lengthy, causing delays in supplies that are critical for Ukrainian forces.
"Our commonsense legislation would cut red tape to expedite the process for our allies to purchase and transfer certain munitions to Ukraine," he added.
Which ammunition would be delivered faster
The bill proposes amendments to the US Arms Export Control Act (AECA). In particular, it suggests introducing a mechanism for prior approval of the purchase and transfer of certain types of ammunition to Ukraine by NATO countries and other partners until December 31, 2030, with the possibility of extension until 2035.
These munitions include:
- 155 mm artillery shells
- 155 mm Excalibur extended-range artillery shells
- ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
- ammunition for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS)
At the same time, the bill maintains existing end-use monitoring requirements. In addition, Ukraine must provide written guarantees that it will not transfer these munitions to third parties without US consent.
As a reminder, NATO allies are preparing to adopt new decisions on long-term support for Ukraine.
At the alliance summit in Ankara on July 7–8, allies plan to confirm the allocation of an additional €70 billion in military aid, as well as declare their intention to maintain a similar level of funding in 2027.
Support for Ukraine is expected to be one of the key points in the summit’s final declaration.
