Pentagon runs out of money for Ukraine - Austin

The U.S. government has run out of money to help Ukraine so Washington can no longer supply Kyiv with missiles and ammunition at the same pace as a year ago.

This was stated by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Ukrinform reports with reference to AP.

The U.S. has run out of money to help Ukraine, not being able at the moment to send missiles and ammunition to Kyiv in the same amounts as a year ago. “So I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors," Austin said, calling on the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to cover Kyiv's needs until lawmakers in Washington approve relevant legislative initiatives.

AP also cites the statement by Austin's assistant defense secretary for international affairs, Celeste Wallander, who said that Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is getting reports from the front lines that “units do not have the stocks and the stores of ammunition that they require.”

“That is one of the reasons we have been focusing on the need to answer Congress’ questions, so that they are able to move forward on a decision to pass” legislation with the aid, Wallander added.

As Ukrinform reported earlier Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said on January 23 following the virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as the ‘Ramstein format’, that the Group laid down a total of over $80 billion in military aid to Ukraine and pursues collective efforts to ensure uninterrupted support for the embattled nation.

At the same time, the U.S. Congress is still struggling to agree on conditions to approve President Joe Biden's supplemental national security funding request, which includes over $60 billion in defense assistance to Ukraine.