Biden Mulls Tapping US Army's Own Funds In Scramble To Arm Ukraine
The Biden White House is so desperate to provide further immediate funding to Ukraine, with the House still firmly blocking the sought after $60+ billion, that it is considering a move to try and tap $200 million from US Army funding.
While $200 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the total Ukraine aid still being sought, it would be hugely symbolic, showing that Biden is ultimately willing to put Ukraine's defenses first - while taking from America's domestic defense budget to do it.
Drawing on Pentagon reserves would free up funds to replenish critically low supplies at a moment Ukraine is by and large retreating from front lines in the east, however, Bloomberg has reported that the final decision hasn't been made yet.
Bloomberg noted that the "Debate over utilizing a small amount of Pentagon reserves underscores the furious effort at the White House to find any possible support for Ukraine."
"The White House is focused on urging the US House to pass the national security supplemental, and aides continue to believe that if the speaker were to put the bill to a vote, it would pass overwhelmingly, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said," the report added. Biden renewed his call during Thursday night's State of the Union address.
Meanwhile, some small European nations are stepping up in an attempt to fill a huge gap in the wake of the US arms stoppage.
"A Czech-led plan to buy 800,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine to fight Russia's invading forces has secured enough funding, with contributions from 18 countries," Czech President Petr Pavel described Thursday.
According to more from Reuters, "The most pressing need for Ukraine two years after Russia's full-scale invasion began has become artillery ammunition, which is running low as the sides use heavy cannon fire to hold largely static, entrenched positions along the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line."
The European Union a year ago promised to deliver one million ammunition rounds by now but has failed to do it, as European defense companies are being pleaded with by EU government leaders to expand infrastructure and production.
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— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 7, 2024
Senator Ron Johnson: Ukraine can't ask us for money when they've got no plan
"Enough of this fantasy. If you want any funding for Ukraine, tell me how you'll spend it to try to bring the war to an end."
Source: My Panel on @ZeroEdge pic.twitter.com/Yy5SOE1U64
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Zelensky is still pledging 'victory' against Russia, but he's still recently admitted that his forces are running woefully low on weapons and ammunition, and that if more ammo doesn't come from the US "within a month" - it will spell disaster for Ukraine's efforts to pushback the invasion.
