The administration of President Joe Biden is struggling to utilize the billions of dollars allocated for supplying arms to Ukraine before the current government's term ends.
After January 20, the decision regarding the further use of unspent funds will likely fall to Donald Trump's team, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Currently, the administration has over $6.5 billion available, allowing the Pentagon to transfer weaponry from its reserves to Ukraine. However, officials state that the defense department has reached a limit, where further arms transfers could impact the U.S. defense capabilities.
To fully utilize the remaining funds, the U.S. would need to supply weapons worth over $110 million daily, totaling nearly $3 billion in December and January. However, as a Congressional representative notes, this task is nearly impossible.
At the same time, Trump's decision on how to handle the remaining funds will have implications for the battlefield and will determine the extent of Kyiv's influence in any potential peace negotiations with Russia. As WSJ reports, U.S. officials are now concerned that the new administration may choose not to supply arms to pressure Kyiv into negotiations.
According to one military official, the Pentagon currently intends to send Ukraine weapons worth between $500 to $750 million monthly. However, such volumes are already forcing cuts to American stockpiles, which could adversely affect the readiness of the U.S. military, something defense leaders aim to avoid.
“We are scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of what we can easily send,” the official noted.
Future deliveries are expected to focus primarily on artillery and munitions that are easier to transport. In contrast, heavy equipment like tanks or armored vehicles requires several months for inspection and preparation for shipment.
Additionally, over $2 billion remains available for long-term contracts for weapon production for Ukraine. The Pentagon is trying to finalize these agreements by January 20. Another approximately $5 billion is allocated for purchasing new weapons to replenish U.S. stockpiles, but the pace of spending these funds depends on the defense industry's capabilities. Officials hope to utilize these funds by the end of the current term.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Politeka also reported on this matter.