According to Reuters on March 13, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk attributed the failure to reach an agreement on extending aid to Ukraine to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. Tusk emphasized that the lives of millions hang in the balance, stressing that assistance to Ukraine transcends mere political dynamics within the United States. He asserted that Johnson’s failure to act decisively would result in the loss of thousands of lives, holding him personally accountable.
Tusk, alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda, urged Johnson to expedite the vote on extending aid during their meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. This call for action comes amid the announcement of a new $300 million military aid package for Ukraine by the United States on March 12.
U.S. aid to Ukraine
Earlier, CNN, citing sources, reported that the Pentagon is exploring the option of utilizing its remaining funds for military aid to Ukraine until Congress authorizes additional funding. With approximately $4 billion in presidential drawdown authority funds at its disposal, the Pentagon has hesitated to allocate them without a guarantee of reimbursement from Congress.
In a separate report, Bloomberg stated that the White House is contemplating reallocating around $200 million from the U.S. Army’s budget to provide aid to Ukraine.
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The most recent military aid package for Ukraine was allocated by Washington in late December 2023.
On March 11, the Department of Defense disclosed that its budget request for fiscal year 2025 includes $300 million earmarked for Ukraine. The request is grounded in the 2022 National Defense Strategy, with a key focus being to address the escalating threat posed by a resurgent Russia.
Despite the Senate’s backing of a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine on February 13, approval from the House of Representatives is still pending. CNN reported that the House may deliberate on the aid package in late March or April.
