White House says US funding for Ukraine set to run out by end of the year

The White House budget chief issued a warning to the US Congress on Monday, emphasising the critical need for fresh funds for Ukraine by the end of the year. The director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young conveyed in a letter to the House Speaker that time was rapidly running out to support Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian invasion. “I want to be clear: without congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to procure more weapons and equipment for Ukraine,” Young wrote. “Cutting off the flow of US weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield,” she added, reported AFP. US President Joe Biden had asked Congress in October to approve $106 billion in national security funding, including support for Ukraine and for Israel’s war with Hamas. However, internal strife among Republicans has paralysed Congress for months, with certain hard-right lawmakers opposing further assistance to Kyiv. New Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a little-known ally of former president Donald Trump, took office in October after his predecessor Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a right-wing coup. Under Johnson, Congress narrowly averted a chaotic government shutdown over the Thanksgiving holiday in November, but the deal to keep the lights on until mid-January left out aid to America’s key allies. The White House’s budget director emphasised that waiting until January would be too late, as funds for Ukraine would have already dried up. She stressed that the failure to secure additional funding not only jeopardized Ukraine’s progress but also increased the likelihood of Russian military victories. Young urged Congress to act promptly, emphasising that the time to support Ukraine against Russian aggression is now. As Russian forces intensify attacks in the east, Ukraine has been seeking more foreign aid. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the United States has provided $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine. The situation in Ukraine could impact Biden’s reelection chances, with polls indicating a growing number of voters expressing concerns that the US is overly involved in supporting Kyiv. With inputs from AFP