According to the Budget Office, the United States is facing a shortage of funds to support the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, warned in a letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional leaders that the U.S. is facing a shortage of funds and time in its efforts to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.
According to the letter, Young stated that the U.S. will stop providing weapons and aid to Ukraine due to lack of funds by the end of the year. He mentioned that Ukraine will be unable to continue their fight without this support, and also pointed out that the U.S. has already exhausted its resources in helping to stabilize Ukraine’s economy.
In October of last year, the Biden administration requested Congress to provide a budget of approximately $106 billion in order to support ambitious initiatives for Ukraine, Israel, and border security within the United States.
The allocation of funds for Ukraine has sparked political debate among certain conservative members of the slightly Republican-dominated Congress.
Young stated in a letter released by the White House that halting financial support and the distribution of weapons to Ukraine would potentially benefit Russia in combat.
In September 2023, Shalanda Young, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, gave a speech at the White House in Washington.
“I need to make this clear: if Congress does not act, we will not have enough resources by the end of the year to acquire additional weapons and equipment for Ukraine. This also means we will not be able to supply equipment from U.S. military reserves,” she stated. “There is no unlimited source of funding to address this issue. We have exhausted our funds and are running out of time,” she explained.
Looking towards the 2024 election and considering crucial swing states and strongholds for the Republican party, Young suggested using funds to establish contracts with businesses in Alabama, Texas, Georgia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
Last week, Democratic Senator Mark Warner warned that the U.S. Congress was on the verge of making a terrible mistake.
Warner expressed to Reuters that it would be a significant error if Congress fails to provide assistance before Christmas.
He stated that Israel will emerge victorious in their conflict with Hamas even without the support of the United States. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has acknowledged that Ukraine will not be successful, as we are currently at a crucial point where any further lack of support from the United States would result in a catastrophic outcome, similar to what occurred a few months ago.
A report from The Washington Post outlines the potential consequences of conflict and hesitation between Washington and Kyiv regarding strategies for military action against Russia. This may have ultimately hindered Ukraine’s anticipated counteroffensive.
According to the Post’s interviews with over 30 high-ranking officials from Ukraine, the United States, and Europe, it is recognized that the war has reached a stalemate as winter approaches and the front lines become frozen in position.
Ukraine-Russia fighting
On the X social media platform, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian President, stated that Kyiv’s main priority is to enhance its production of weapons and accelerate negotiations with allies to strengthen military resources. Despite anticipating a strong attack from Russia this upcoming winter, the Ukrainian people are ready, having learned from last winter’s experiences.
According to Podolyak, the upcoming winter will be challenging due to Russia’s disregard for international laws, conventions, and rules of engagement. They are intentionally targeting civilians in large numbers.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military stated that they had launched an attack on oil storage facilities in the city of Luhansk, which is under Russian control.
According to the Telegram messaging app, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported a “successful strike” carried out by their forces.
On Monday, RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency, reported that Ukrainian soldiers used military drones to launch an attack on an oil depot.
According to the report, the attack caused a fire to start, but the Russian-installed authorities were able to put it out.
According to a report on Telegram, the Ukrainian air force was targeted by Russia in an overnight attack involving 23 Shahed drones and a cruise missile, all reportedly manufactured in Iran. The military’s air defense was able to successfully shoot down 18 of the drones and destroy the missile.
The air force reported that air defense systems were in use in nine different areas of Ukraine, but did not specify which specific regions.
EU-Ukraine
Officials and diplomats have announced that representatives from the European Union’s 27 nations will gather on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of beginning negotiations for Ukraine to join the EU.
The gathering represents the beginning of planning by the 27 member countries for a summit of the European Union’s leaders on December 14-15. This summit will also evaluate and determine the potential for EU integration for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Bosnia, and other nations.
On Monday, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that Poland is requesting the European Union to reinstate permits that restrict the transit of Ukrainian truck drivers.
For nearly a month, Polish and Slovak truck drivers have been obstructing multiple border crossings for their Ukrainian counterparts. They claim that Ukrainian transportation companies are offering lower prices for their services within the EU, undercutting local traders.
They are calling for the EU to reestablish a system where Ukrainian companies and truckers must obtain permits to work in the region, and similarly, European truckers must have permits to enter Ukraine.
Permits were eliminated following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine.
Morawiecki stated to the press that we will firmly and clearly insist on the return of transportation permits for Ukrainian drivers.
The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters provided some of the information for this story.
Source: voanews.com
