US Pentagon Comptroller, Michael McCord has warned US Congress of catastrophic consequences for Ukraine should funding for its ongoing defense be unavailable or delayed within the currently tabled continuing resolution.
In his letter to Minority Leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, McCord cites specifically that Ukraine's air defenses such as Patriot and Stinger missile systems that have been keeping Ukrainian cities safer by destroying hundreds of incoming Russian drones and missiles every week rely on ammunition being produced in US factories. Any delay in funding would endanger US support to the country's ground operations at a time when Russia is ramping up operations for a winter offensive.
McCord explains that a lack of funding would not only be a disaster for Ukraine but for the newly renewed US defense industrial base that was largely dormant for many years. It is this dormancy that is often cited as the primary reason for the increased military ambitions we're seeing from China and Russia.
The letter states that "The other funding tool we need are those funds provided to replenish our military's inventories for the weapons and supplies we've provided to support Ukraine in their fight via drawdown. We have only $1.6 billion remaining of the $25.9 billion Congress has provided," continuing that "Without additional funding now, we would have to delay or curtail assistance to meet Ukraine's urgent requirements, including for air defense and ammunition that are critical and urgent now as Russia prepares to conduct a winter offensive and continues its bombardment of Ukrainian cities."
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The letter also states that 155MM, " Unmanned Aerial Systems, systems to detect, analyze, and locate adversary signals, and demolitions equipment. It would affect training, maintenance and sustainment of the equipment we have previously provided and other weapons for Ukraine will not be able to be supplied unless more funds are released," and other assistance would be cut.
The letter notes that "Delays to additional funding would also be perceived by Ukraine as a sign of wavering U.S. support and likely as a betrayal of our previous commitments. Allies and partners are also unlikely to sustain their increased level of support without clear, continuing U.S. leadership."
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Comments (3)
What a total disgrace. This will be catastrophic!
The Majority of Americans support aide too UKRAINE 99% of US military service members fully support UKRAINE Most of the GOP members in congress support aide too Ukraine those far right extremist shouldn't play chicken with Ukrainian lives and Global Security Biden should sign a presidential order with aide for Ukraine or declare war on Russia
Cheer the battle cry "WOLVERINES "
It does not pay to be misled one way or another by American political tribalism.
Just as certainly as the swing goes to one unrealistic extreme, it reverses towards the opposite end. Ukraine has nothing to fear over the long term.
@David, American extremism? US has given close to 1 BLN. There will be more aid but it is time for Europe to step up.. it is much more in EU interest than US.
@Yasha, p check your facts European allies are donating 2$ to our 1$ and have since the invasion Poland alone has donated 3X the US now if you simply don't understand how weak we look right now on a global scale or how this will alienate our country considering we live and die by trade then lord help our children and their children
@David, make that $100 BLN.
@Yasha, You folks keep throwing numbers out there and the value is the value we paid brand new almost all the equipment was decommissioned the artillery rounds needed to be replaced anyway so they were rotates out very little was new or even newer used all of it was being replaced a fraction was actually money at all I know it's so hard for you simple minded folks to understand that or what happens when Russia and China decide that we are weak enough to attack , What did Trump do to our allies when he was president he pulled away from NATO and will again without NATO we can not defend against both Taiwan the Philippines Solomon islands will be invaded along with parts of America people who have no idea about global security and national security shouldn't have a voice in military funding cowards you are....
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦