Ukrainian soldiers from The 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Mariupol Brigade prepare to fire a multiple launch rocket system based on a pickup truck towards Russian positions at the front line, near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 5, 2024. Senior U.S. defense officials said Tuesday, March 12, that the Pentagon will rush about $300 million in weapons to Ukraine after finding some cost savings in its contracts, even though the military remains deeply overdrawn. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)
The White House announced on Tuesday that the Pentagon will promptly allocate approximately $300 million in weaponry to Ukraine, leveraging cost savings identified within existing contracts. This allocation, despite the Department of Defense’s (DoD) significant financial deficit exceeding $10 billion for restocking weaponry drawn from its reserves to aid Ukraine’s struggle against Russia, marks the first such security package since December. Recent acknowledgment by officials reveals a shortfall far surpassing the initial depletion of replenishment funds.
This initiative arises amid Ukraine’s critical shortage of munitions, compounded by the stalling of efforts to secure fresh funding for weaponry in the House due to Republican opposition. The need for Congress to approve additional replenishment funds, a component of the pending supplemental spending bill, has been emphasized by U.S. officials as a prerequisite for resuming weapons deliveries. These funds facilitate the withdrawal of munitions and other essential weaponry from DoD reserves, under presidential drawdown authority, for dispatch to Ukraine, followed by contracts to replace the expended resources.
National security adviser Jake Sullivan highlighted the urgency of the situation, underscoring Ukraine’s dire need for ammunition amidst Russian military advances. The decision to allocate additional aid was propelled by a reduction in costs identified within longer-term contracts, amounting to approximately $300 million. However, this allocation merely offsets the ongoing financial deficit, underscoring the necessity of congressional action or further cost-saving measures to sustainably address the shortfall.
The announced aid package, termed a “one-time shot,” is contingent upon congressional approval of the pending supplemental spending bill or the identification of additional cost savings. Expected components of this aid package include anti-aircraft missiles, artillery rounds, and armor systems.
Polish leaders’ visit to Washington seeks to address the impasse over replenishing funds for Ukraine, with President Andrzej Duda engaging with congressional leaders and President Joe Biden. Efforts to expedite the aid package’s passage include House Democrats’ discharge petition, a procedural maneuver requiring support from a majority of lawmakers.
The Pentagon’s reliance on the supplemental spending bill to rectify the $10 billion shortfall was emphasized during recent budget briefing discussions. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks underscored the imperative nature of securing this funding to address current deficits adequately.
This latest allocation echoes a similar instance from June, wherein the Pentagon repurposed excess funds, stemming from a review identifying overestimations in weapon valuations, to support additional weapons shipments to Ukraine until December.
Despite the substantial financial assistance provided by the United States, Ukrainian forces continue to grapple with severe ammunition shortages, impacting operational capabilities. CIA Director William Burns attributed the recent retreat from Avdiivka not to a lack of resolve but to insufficient ammunition resupply, highlighting the criticality of sustained support efforts.
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