"Time's Running Out" for Ukraine Aid: White House Warns Congress
In a stark warning, the White House has indicated that US military aid to Ukraine could dry up by year's end if Congress fails to reach an agreement on this support. In a letter penned to House Republicans' chair, Mike Johnson, and published on Monday, Shalanda Young, chief of the White House budget office, emphasized the potential repercussions. If the aid doesn't materialize, Ukraine's military will face ramifications on the battlefield, she stated.
Congressional Impasse Continues
The ongoing cold war in Congress over funding for Ukraine's defense has been dragging on for quite some time. The opposition, led by the majority Republicans in the House of Representatives, has shown some resistance to providing further aid to the Ukrainian war effort.
Time to Act: Urgent Plea from the White House
Young's letter to Congressional leadership carries a sense of urgency. She underlined that the White House budget office has already exhausted the funds allocated for Ukraine, and without additional assistance, the military won't have funding to procure new weapons or even draw from US stockpiles starting from New Year's day.
The Letter: "We've Run out of Money and Time"
In the letter published by the White House on Monday, Young underscored her concerns about the looming crisis. She wrote, "We've run out of money—and almost out of time." She criticized the inaction of Congress, stating that there was no 'magic pot' of funds that could be tapped. If aid supplies were to stop, Ukraine's successes would be threatened, and the likelihood of Russian victories would significantly increase.
Impact on Ukraine's Economic Stability
Young also raised concerns about Ukraine's crumbling economy. She emphasized that if the Ukrainian economy were to collapse, it would jeopardize Kiev's ability to continue fighting. The US is one of Ukraine's primary military supporters and has already provided billions in aid. Losing this aid would be catastrophic, especially with Europe's faltering commitment to deliver ammunition.
Russian Missile Threats Again Loom Over Ukraine
In other developments, Ukraine is bracing for new massive missile strikes targeting its power grid, according to air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat. Russian forces are thought to possess around 870 missiles, though their arsenal has been dwindling since September, when there were approximately 1600 cruise missiles in stock.
Monday night saw 23 Russian combat drones and one missile launched towards Ukraine. 18 of the drones were successfully repelled, and the missile was shot down. The aftermath saw no reports of casualties or damage; however, air defenses were active across nine different regions.
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The uncertainty surrounding the US military aid to Ukraine persists, but sources suggest that the recent suspension of foreign aid has not affected US military aid to Ukraine. The Department of Defense continues to provide aid to Ukraine through the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which are independent of the foreign aid suspended by the Department of State and USAID.
President Trump initiated the temporary 90-day pause in all foreign development assistance to allow for a review of aid programs. While this pause does not influence military aid to Ukraine, it might impact other forms of assistance. The review is part of an effort to calibrate US foreign aid policies in line with the administration's priorities and interests.
