- The U.S. has provided approximately $100 billion in military assistance and non-security financial aid to Ukraine since February 2022, with around $61.4 billion of that specifically earmarked for military aid.
- U.S. allies have provided an additional $150 billion in aid to Ukraine.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken claims much of the foreign aid spending for Ukraine was used to support U.S. defense manufacturing, leading to more jobs and giving the domestic defense industry a much-needed boost.
- Russia asserts that no amount of external military aid to Ukraine will affect the outcome of the conflict.
The United States has provided approximately $100 billion in financial aid and military assistance to Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Speaking at a forum organized by the think tank the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 18, Blinken said the bulk of this funding was allocated to defense manufacturing within the U.S. that he suggested ended up creating jobs and boosting the domestic defense industry.
"We've spent a lot of money on Ukraine and defending Ukraine, about $100 billion. Our allies and partners, they've spent about $150 billion doing it," said Blinken.
"You talk about burden sharing; this is the best example of burden sharing I've ever seen," he added. "By the way, it's important to explain to people the money that we've spent defending Ukraine, most of that was spent here in the United States in our own defense industrial base – manufacturing, building stuff that Ukrainians need to defend themselves. Good American jobs have been a result of that."
The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden has been working to allocate all funds approved by Congress before leaving office in January. In recent weeks, the administration has pledged a "massive surge" in arms deliveries and aid to Ukraine. Last week, Biden authorized a new $500 million weapons package for Ukraine, marking the 72nd such package he has authorized since February 2022.
This latest delivery included additional air defense systems, artillery, drones and armored vehicles. The authorization followed another security package worth $988 million approved just a week prior through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
These actions reflect the Biden administration's commitment to supporting Ukraine, despite uncertainty over future U.S. commitments under President-elect Donald Trump. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) recently stated that he does not expect "any Ukraine funding to come up now."
U.S. has provided $61.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2022
Official data provided by the Department of State claims that the U.S. has provided approximately $61.4 billion in military assistance since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The total military aid provided to Ukraine rises to $64.1 billion when taking into consideration all aid provided since the initial conflict with Russia in 2014. This does not include non-military financial aid provided to Ukraine. (Related: Biden approves $20B loan to Ukraine right before Trump takes office.)
The Department of Defense has provided military assistance to Ukraine using the emergency Presidential Drawdown Authority 55 times since August 2021 to supply Ukraine with military assistance totaling approximately $31.733 billion worth of armaments from the Pentagon's military stockpiles.
Ukraine has been a key regional strategic partner for the U.S., with significant efforts made to modernize its military and enhance interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The U.S. reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.
Russia, however, has consistently warned that no amount of Western aid will alter the outcome of the conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has asserted that Biden's administration is leaving behind "a difficult legacy" of heightened tensions with Russia. Moscow maintains that its military operation in Ukraine will achieve its objectives, regardless of external support.
Watch this Fox Business clip discussing House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) recent decision to reject any additional requests from the White House for aid for Ukraine.
This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.
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