McCarthy set out his view clearly, “I vote for aid for Ukraine, I support aid for Ukraine.” On a trip to Israel McCarthy was challenged on his position by a reporter, “We know that you don’t support the current unlimited and uncontrolled supplies of weaponry and aid to Ukraine.” President: for as long as it takes.”Ĭongressional staffers and administration officials took note when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledged to support continued assistance to Ukraine in recent weeks, after repeatedly saying that there should not be a blank check when it comes to continued support. “And that’s how long we’re going to be with you, Mr. “You remind us that freedom is priceless it’s worth fighting for as long as it takes,” President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while in Kyiv in February. US has promised to support war effort ‘for as long as it takes’īiden administration officials have said repeatedly that the US will support Ukraine “for as long as it takes” to secure Ukraine’s freedom from Russian aggression. The staffers also said they are concerned that the administration is waiting to see whether Ukraine is successful in its much-anticipated counteroffensive before committing any more funds to the war. “We expect the administration not to wait until the eleventh hour if the Ukrainians need more before the end of the fiscal year.” Susan Collins said during a Department of Defense budget hearing last week. “It is critical that the administration provide Ukraine with what it needs in time to defend and take back its sovereign territory,” Sen. To date, the US has dispersed weapons and supplies to Ukraine through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which draws directly from Pentagon weapons stocks and requires replenishment funding.Ĭongressional staffers told CNN that based on how much the administration has been spending every month, they believe the remaining funds could run out sooner than September – and they have not yet heard from administration officials about whether the White House will request additional funding once that money is depleted. White House and Pentagon officials told CNN that they are anticipating having to ask Congress for more funding, but want to first determine how to distribute the money they already have. Garn added that the Pentagon “continues to assess planned obligations for remaining FY 2023 funding and evaluate as the situation evolves to support battlefield successes during new offensives in the Spring.” Garron Garn told CNN that of the $36 billion in emergency supplemental funding the Pentagon received to aid Ukraine for 2023, “$2.3 billion remains available for Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA is an authority and not funding) and $4.0 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).” US assessing potential damage of Patriot missile defense system following Russian attack near Kyiv Ibrahim Erikan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images The administration requested this kind of additional funding to help support Ukraine four times last year, in March, May, September and December.įile photo show a Patriot Air Defense system. The supplemental was meant to last through September 30, 2023. In December, Congress approved the administration’s request for an additional $48 billion to help arm Ukraine and combat the Covid-19 pandemic, $36 billion of which was specifically allocated for Ukraine. Administration officials told CNN that they anticipate that the White House’s Office of Management and Budget will have to ask Congress for more Ukraine funding once the current batch – approved by Congress in December – runs out. The White House statement comes amid some anxiety on Capitol Hill about what they say is the administration’s lack of clarity on the issue. “As we get closer to the end of the fiscal year, we’ll reevaluate and determine what additional resources are needed.” “Thanks to the bipartisan Congressional support for Ukraine, we believe we have the resources we need through the end of this fiscal year,” a White House spokesperson told CNN. The White House says it is not currently planning to ask Congress for new Ukraine funding before the end of the fiscal year at the end of September, pitting administration officials against some lawmakers and congressional staffers who are concerned that the funds could run out by mid-summer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |