Nearly $6 billion Ukraine aid from US set to expire

Up to $6 billion in US aid for Ukraine will lapse at the end of the month unless Congress extends the Pentagon’s authority to supply weapons from its stockpile to Kyiv.

The Biden administration has urged Congress to include this funding authority in any continuing resolution passed before the end of the fiscal year on September 30, which is needed to fund the federal government and avert a shutdown, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

The administration is seeking an extension of the authority for another year.

Should this effort fail, the Defence Department is exploring alternative options, though specifics have not been disclosed. Approximately $5.8 billion in presidential drawdown authority (PDA) is set to expire, while $100 million in PDA will remain available. The PDA permits the Pentagon to swiftly dispatch weapons to Ukraine.

In addition, over $4 billion in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which does not expire until September 30, 2025, remains. This funding supports weapons contracts for future deliveries.

Notably, the US Congress has appropriated approximately $174.2 billion in supplemental funding for the U.S. response to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine since February 2022. This includes security, direct budget, development, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine; security assistance for NATO allies and other partner nations; funding to support enhanced US military presence and activity in Europe; and replenishment of US military stocks transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). This funding was enacted through five supplemental appropriations acts.