White House Requests Another $38 Billion Funding for Ukraine While Veteran Coalition Opposes

The White House is requesting an additional $37.7 billion in aid from Congress to support Ukraine as it battles Russia, according to a senior administration official. This year’s US assistance to the war-torn country would be more than $100 billion if approved.

According to CNN, the State Department will receive $14.5 billion for “direct budget support to Ukraine, critical wartime investments, security assistance, and humanitarian assistance,” among other things. The equipment, replenishment of Department of Defense stocks, and continued military, intelligence, and other defense support are part of $21.7 billion in assistance for Ukraine. The Department of Energy will receive $626 million ‘for nuclear security support to Ukraine and for modernizing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve,’ and the Department of Health and Human Services will provide standard assistance health care and support services to Ukrainian parolees, per the fact sheet.

Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday to express her support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty in the face of Russia’s brutal war.

“[W]e must continue to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and stand resolute in the face of Russia’s brutal war. Since the beginning of Putin’s war, the United States has rallied the world to support Ukraine. Together, with strong, bipartisan support in the Congress, we have provided significant assistance that has been critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield—and we cannot let that support run dry.”

Of the money that has been disbursed or committed so far, about 75% of the funds previously provided by the Congress for Ukraine have been disbursed or committed, with even more expected by the end of the year, Young wrote.

Because of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine requires additional funding, weapons, and support to defend itself, as well as continued lifesaving aid. In addition, this request addresses global food and energy shortages caused by Russia’s invasion.

There are worries that Ukraine will not receive the same level of funding as it presently does, given that the Republicans will soon control the House of Representatives, in addition to the White House and other legislative chambers.

On Tuesday, before the precise details of the White House request emerged, the conservative Concerned Veterans For America and 12 other groups sent a letter to Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) opposing “another massive aid package to Ukraine.”
Congressional leaders should not rush through another massive assistance package for Ukraine during this session, the groups warned. They said the United States faces enormous inflation and a national debt of over $31 trillion. To give you an idea of just how much money we’re talking about, this package would bring total US Congressional support for Ukraine to $100 billion—which is more than most countries’ defense budgets.

"It would be a colossal mistake for Congressional leaders to use this lame-duck session to fast-track yet another massive aid package to Ukraine as the United States faces historic inflation and a $31 trillion national debt."https://t.co/1j7XZHp13W

— Concerned Veterans for America (@ConcernedVets) November 15, 2022

“The United States should not continue to write a blank check to Ukraine at the expense of hardworking American taxpayers while wealthy European countries refuse to match our contributions for a war taking place in their backyard. Before any additional aid is approved, the 118th Congress should have the opportunity to both debate and examine how additional funding will benefit US interests and what a sound strategy looks like to bring about an end to the war in Ukraine.”

Others support this sentiment saying Congress should examine and debate how additional funding would benefit US interests and how to end the war in Ukraine before writing another blank check to Ukraine at the expense of hardworking American taxpayers. Europe’s wealthy countries refuse to match our contributions, so the United States should not continue to do so either. As a result, the 118th Congress should explore how these issues would affect the American public in the long run before approving any additional aid.

Authorities in Poland, the US, NATO, and elsewhere are trying to determine what sort of missile struck Polish territory, killing two people, as Ukraine struggles to restore power after what officials say was the most massive Russian missile attack since Vladimir Putin invaded.

President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that about 10 million Ukrainians have been without electricity due to this week’s strikes, particularly praising the recently delivered US-provided National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems, or NASAMS air defense systems, which he said shot down 10 out of 10 Russian missiles.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said that Ukrainian air defenses shot down a total of 73 Russian missiles.

Violent battles are still being fought across Ukraine.

Last week, we suggested that Russian troops who crossed the east side of the Dnipro River would fortify Moscow’s position in Donetsk, where the most intense fighting of this conflict has occurred. It now appears that those troops are reinforcing Moscow’s position in Donetsk, where some of the most brutal battles have taken place.

The Institute for the Study of War has issued a new report with some significant findings:

• Russian troops are positioned nine to 12 miles beyond the Dnipro to avoid being bombarded by Ukrainian forces, according to the operational command south joint press center chief.
• As we reported last week, Kherson and the west bank of the Dnipro have been seized by Ukrainian forces, putting HIMARS operators almost within range of Crimea and in firing range of most Russian forces on occupied Ukrainian territory to the southeast of Kherson, which was captured on February.
• Speaking at the G-20 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared the recapture of Kherson City to the allied invasion of Normandy during WWII. You can read more about his 10-point peace plan here.
• A group of children in occupied Berdiansk reportedly tore down a Russian flag in celebration after the victory in Kherson.
• Wrecked weapons of war, like the four destroyed Russian 152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled guns, are emerging on the battlefield as intense fighting continues.
• Donetsk has been largely destroyed after fierce fighting as Russia continues to strive to seize it.
  Some of the captured Russian equipment has proved useful to the Ukrainian side, even though some of it, like the T-62 tank, is pretty old.

Despite failing to capture Russian equipment, Ukraine has found innovative ways to fight, such as the troops who apparently used a truck to make a makeshift mobile Brimstone ground attack missile launcher.

Lastly, Russia is acquiring drones and perhaps short-range ballistic missiles from Iran to assist it in its battle against Ukraine.