The White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, has announced on November 8 that the United States has used up 96% of its dedicated military aid funds for Ukraine, as the country continues to resist Russian military actions.
Kirby conveyed that the U.S. remains optimistic about Ukraine’s ability to reclaim territories captured by Russian forces, despite admitting that the advancements have been slower than anticipated.
In efforts to continue support for Ukraine, on October 20, President Joe Biden called on Congress to approve nearly $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and other critical areas of interest.
However, more recent legislative developments have seen a shift in the allocation of aid. On November 2, the House of Representatives, with Mike Johnson as the new Speaker, passed a measure to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in military support, but it did not extend additional aid to Ukraine. This particular bill faced rejection in the Senate.
Following a legislative stalemate in Congress over funding, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned on November 3 that the U.S. started dispatching smaller military aid packages to Ukraine. This move is aimed at maintaining assistance as larger funding approvals are held up.
The ongoing dialogue in Washington and Brussels to find methods for reallocating Russian assets to aid in the reconstruction of Ukraine underscores the international dimension of the conflict and the financial complexities involved in supporting Ukraine’s defense and rebuilding efforts.
