The Pentagon runs out of money for Ukraine: what will happen to the weapons requested by Kiev?

For the first time since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin created the International Ukraine Support Group in April 2022, the United States will host the monthly meeting of about 50 countries without having money, without being able to send the ammunition and missiles that Ukraine needs to defend themselves from Russia.

While waiting for Congress to approve the budget and possibly additional funding for Ukraine’s fight, the United States will look for allies to continue bridging the gap.

Tuesday’s meeting will focus on long-term needs, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday.

“While we cannot provide security assistance at this time, our partners continue to do so,” Singh clarified.

From Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to loudly demand, in all his appearances, that his Western allies send him more weapons, ammunition and military vehicles, as they are running out of equipment needed for their counteroffensive against Ukrainian troops Russian.

The meeting will be virtual because Austin is still recovering at home from complications of prostate cancer treatment.

The Pentagon announced its latest security assistance to Ukraine on December 27. a $250 million package which included 155mm shells, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and other high-demand items drawn from existing U.S. stockpiles.

Since then, the United States has been unable to provide additional munitions because the money to replenish those reserves has run out and Congress has yet to approve additional funds.

Clashes between Congress and the White House

More than $110 billion in aid to both Ukraine and Israel is blocked disagreements between Congress and the White House on other policy prioritiesas additional security for the U.S.-Mexico border.

Russia, meanwhile, has shown no desire to end the conflict in Ukraine, and the United Nations on Monday ruled out any peace plan backed by Kiev and the West.

The United States has provided Ukraine more than $44.2 billion in security assistance since Russia invaded the country in February 2022. Of that amount, approximately $23.6 billion has been withdrawn from existing military arsenals, and nearly $19 billion has been sent in the form of long-term military contracts for items whose supply will take months.

So, even if the funds are exhausted, some previously purchased weapons will continue to arrive. The U.S. State Department provided an additional $1.7 billion in foreign military funding.

The United States and about 30 international partners also continue to train Ukrainian forces and have so far trained a total of 118,000 Ukrainians in locations around the world, said Col. Marty O’Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Forces Europe and Africa.

The United States has trained about 18,000 such fighters, including about 16,300 soldiers in Germany. Currently around 1,500 other fighters are receiving training.

Fountain: The associated press