04 December 2023
The administration of American President Joe Biden warned lawmakers Monday against rejecting a military aid proposal for Ukraine.
Shalanda Young is the director of the United States Office of Management and Budget. She sent an open letter to the leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Young said if the current budget measure is rejected, U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be gone by the end of the year.
The aid permits Ukraine to buy weapons for its defense against Russia.
Young noted that the U.S. also provides financial aid to the Ukrainian economy, and that money is already gone. She wrote: "If Ukraine's economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting...."
With less than one month to go in 2023, she added: "We are out of money – and nearly out of time."
Biden has asked Congress for more than $100 billion in aid that would go to Ukraine, Israel and others. Some lawmakers oppose the measure unless there are conditions attached. They say the Biden administration must find solutions to the migrant problem at the U.S. southern border.
The House of Representatives already approved a military assistance bill for Israel. The Senate has not.
The U.S. sent $111 billion to Ukraine in 2023. About $67 billion went to military needs. Another $27 billion went toward economic and civil assistance and $10 billion supported humanitarian aid.
Only three percent of the fund remains, Young wrote. She urged lawmakers to approve more money.
"This isn't a next year problem. The time to help a democratic Ukraine fight against Russian aggression is right now. It is time for Congress to act," the letter reads.
The letter followed a closed meeting on November 29 among U.S. congressional, military and national security officials. The security officials told the lawmakers that Ukraine aid needed to continue. Biden's recent proposal includes $61 billion for Ukraine.
Chuck Schumer attended the meeting. He is the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate and a Democrat. He said the American military experts "were clear that Ukraine needs the aid soon."
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.