US military aid to Ukraine dwindles as Pentagon faces weapons shortages
- In Reports
- 10:06 PM, Sep 17, 2024
- Myind Staff
According to a CNN report, the scale of US military aid to Ukraine has gradually reduced over time, as the Pentagon's available stockpiles of weapons and equipment have diminished.
The report stated that while the Biden administration still has $6 billion in funds to support Ukraine, the Pentagon's stockpiles are now running low after over two years of conflict. Two US officials informed CNN that this is impacting what can be supplied to Kyiv.
"It’s about the stockpiles we have on our shelves, what [the Ukrainians] are asking for, and whether we can meet those requests with what we currently have," one official explained to CNN.
In response to this situation, the Pentagon has asked Congress to extend the deadline for utilising the remaining funds, which are due to expire at the end of September, according to Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary.
"Replenishment is another issue," the official further noted to CNN. While the US is ramping up production of key military supplies, to supply both Ukraine and its own forces, it is a long-term process that won't immediately address the growing demand.
Prior to the Ukraine conflict, the US was manufacturing around 15,000 of the 155 mm shells per month. With new factories and production lines established, production has increased to 40,000 shells per month. However, it will still take over a year for the Pentagon to achieve its target of producing 100,000 shells each month.
Ukraine is already experiencing the impact of these shortages, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has noted. He voiced his frustration over the delays in the delivery of promised air defence systems, warning that this lag had created a significant shortfall in vital assistance.
In April, the Pentagon pledged to provide up to $1 billion in weapons and equipment directly from its reserves after Congress approved additional funding for Ukraine. However, since then, individual aid packages have been considerably smaller, ranging from $125 million to $400 million, with none surpassing the $400 million limit.
According to CNN, another US official revealed that earlier this year, the administration was unable to draw from the Department of Defense’s stockpiles for four months because of delays in Congress approving the funding.
The official also explained that the US is exercising caution in how much aid is sent to Ukraine at any given time. Despite this, new aid packages are being announced every two weeks, which Ukraine appreciates, as it helps boost morale, according to the official.
Image source: Reuters
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