The White House on military aid to Ukraine: We have enough money for one good package

John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said on Monday: – We have enough money to buy another arms package for Ukraine. As announced, the package will be announced before the end of the year, but without Congress approving new aid for Ukraine, the administration will not have more money to replenish its arsenal.

Read also: Deadlock over Ukraine support funds. The White House: Joe Biden believes that the negotiations are moving in the right direction

Kirby was referring to a letter sent by Pentagon Comptroller James McCord to Congress about the planned allocation of the last $1 billion in funds available to replenish weapons stockpiles in connection with aid to Ukraine. Because of the need to maintain U.S. military readiness, the department expects that without Congressional approval of additional measures, “only one additional package will be possible,” McCord wrote in the letter.

A National Security Council spokesperson confirmed these words during a press conference, adding that the new weapons package will be announced before the end of the year.

-We have enough money to cover one good aid package. However, I cannot say at this time exactly what it will be and what the total amount will be. “But we think we only have one left,” Kirby said, again calling on Congress to act and declaring he is open to compromise on immigration reform, which is a condition for Republicans to agree to additional funds.

Talks are still ongoing in the US Senate to break the impasse over the bill allocating additional funds to Ukraine. The White House has requested $61 billion, which is supposed to be enough for the entire fiscal year, that is, until the end of September. Although Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced that a vote on the package would take place this week, negotiators on both sides indicated over the weekend that despite the progress made, the matter is so complex that it will not be possible to finalize it. Finalizing the package. Pack before Christmas and New Year.year.

The House of Representatives, which still must vote on the bill, has gone into recess, scheduled to last until January 9, although it may be shortened.

According to Pentagon data, the administration still has the authority to transfer weapons worth more than four billion dollars to Ukraine. However, it will not have the money to replenish its arsenal. Although some Republican senators claim that the aid may continue for some time, the administration appears to rule out providing further aid to Ukraine without the possibility of replacing the donated weapons.

See also: “We are literally praying for American support.” Ukraine still needs weapons supplies

“If there is no agreement in Congress, we will not be able to provide more aid without jeopardizing US military readiness,” a National Security Council official told AFP on Monday.