Kiev could lose nearly $6 billion in previously approved US military aid unless Washington finds a way to withdraw or otherwise secure the money before the end of September, Reuters reported on Thursday citing sources.
The funds in question come from the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), a major component of the $61 billion aid package for Ukraine that Washington passed in April. The PDA is a key mechanism the US uses to supply weapons to Kiev, as it allows the president to authorize immediate transfers of goods and services from US stocks. The PDA’s cap changes every fiscal year, and stands at $7.8 billion for FY2024, which ends on September 30.
However, according to Reuters, only a fraction of this year’s PDA has been used so far, leaving approximately $6 billion at risk of being lost. President Joe Biden’s administration has reportedly been holding urgent discussions with Congress in an attempt to keep the funds available in FY2025.
One proposal is reportedly to tie the PDA with a continuing resolution, a temporary measure that Congress can use at the end of the fiscal year to extend funding. Another is to make a large-scale PDA allocation prior to the funds’ expiration date, which would formally prove that the money has been spent.
While Washington has approved around $175 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in February 2022, many experts have noted that aid has been slow in coming this fiscal year. Sources told Reuters it was “not fully clear” why that happened, but noted that it was likely due to concerns America’s own stocks were running low.
US-based Ukraine advocacy groups have been quick to react to the Reuters report, demanding Washington “act immediately” to prevent the funds from expiring. They indirectly played the ‘Russia threat’ card, with one claiming that without the funds, “Ukrainian cities may become depopulated,” leading to a refugee crisis in both Europe and the US. Another signaled that NATO would have its hands full “supporting” its four members that border Ukraine if it “falls.”
Moscow has often warned against Western military aid for Kiev, stating that it will only prolong the fighting while not altering the course of the conflict. It has also stressed that deliveries of Western weapons to Ukraine make the suppliers direct participants in the fighting.