The US State Department will reduce military support to Ukraine compared to the level of 2022 and 2023. At the same time, Washington seeks to help Ukraine establish its own military-industrial base. This was stated at a briefing by the representative of the State Department Matthew Miller.
“We will continue to support Ukraine […] for as long as it takes. That doesn’t mean that we will continue to support it at the same level of military funding that we have in 2022 and 2023. We don’t think that’s necessary because the goal is to ultimately help Ukraine […] get back on its feet”, Miller said.
Miller called on Congress to pass a bill for additional funding, calling the situation critical. Right now, he said, Ukraine cannot yet rely solely on its resources.
“That’s why it remains important for Congress to support Ukraine. And for our European allies and for other countries around the world, it is still important to support Ukraine”, the State Department spokesman concluded.
Earlier, Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said that the U.S. Department of Defense has the formal right to transfer military aid to Ukraine to the amount of $4.2 billion. However, in fact, it is impossible without a decision of Congress. “We have run out of money”, he explained.
“We have the authority to spend these funds from existing funds, but we have no ability to replenish the stockpile”, Ryder noted. At issue is the arms transfer program, which involves sending weapons out of stockpiles.
