Washington will be able to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, but only within the framework of the nomenclature that was already in previous military aid packages.
The Biden administration is working on a “Plan B” to expand its authority to send $5.9 billion in American weapons and equipment to Ukraine before the end of the fiscal year in late September.
Politico writes about this.
The authority to provide aid to Ukraine, received in April of this year, allows the Pentagon to use its own stockpiles to quickly send weapons to Ukraine. The money is then spent on replacing this equipment in U.S. arsenals. However, this authority expires with the start of the new fiscal year on October 1.
“This new workaround, which requires the administration to announce the use of the remaining aid in the coming months, will allow the Pentagon to continue supplying weapons to Kiev. But under this method, the United States will not be able to supply new types of weapons that were not included in previous deliveries,” the publication notes.
Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Charlie Dietz said that if the weapons are delivered on time, they could continue beyond the end of the fiscal year “without issue.” While the White House wants Congress to include the money in a funding package that would allow the government to extend aid to Ukraine beyond October 1, “Plan B” would allow the arms to be delivered even without congressional action.
“I understand that there is already a workaround that the Biden administration is planning to use. I'm not exactly sure how they're going to do it, but I've been told that's what they're going to do,” California Republican Ken Calvert, the chairman of the House Appropriations and Defense Subcommittee, told reporters.
Many House Democrats have been pressuring Speaker Johnson in recent weeks to add provisions to increase aid to Ukraine to the bill.
House Foreign Affairs Committee member Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, noted the importance of providing aid to Ukraine ahead of the difficult winter fighting during an interview on Tuesday, September 24.
“The White House administration is going to try to get around this because the Ukrainians need resources now so they can implement their 'Victory Plan,' which I think is extremely important,” Meeks said.
Recall that the US military aid package for Ukraine worth $375 million could be announced as early as September 25. The package, which is still being approved and whose composition may change, is being provided under presidential authority that allows the Pentagon to send aid to Ukraine directly from its military stockpiles.
Related topics:
More news
