US prepares $8 billion in arms aid packages for Zelenskiy visit, sources say

[mystery-ak]

US prepares $8 billion in arms aid packages for Zelenskiy visit, sources say
By Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle and Phil Stewart
September 25, 20242:56 PM CDT

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The United States plans to announce more than $8 billion worth of military assistance for Ukraine on Thursday during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to Washington, two U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden's administration has been engaged in urgent discussions with Congress to allow it to use up $5.6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before Sept. 30 - the end of the federal fiscal year - when the authority was set to expire.

On Thursday, U.S. officials said, the White House intends to notify Congress it will move forward with the announcement of a $5.6 billion drawdown from U.S. weapons stocks. The contents of that package are still in flux, the officials said.

Reuters reported this month that the Biden administration was considering a backup plan under which it would announce plans for shipments for Ukraine, but with an extended delivery timeline for the weapons and equipment, allowing for a more gradual transfer of resources to Ukraine without missing the Sept. 30 deadline.

A second announcement slated for Thursday will be for $2.4 billion worth of aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program, which allows the administration to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than pull them from U.S. stocks.

That aid will include munitions, weapons to combat drones and material to support munitions production in Ukraine, one of the U.S. officials said.

more
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-prepares-8-billion-arms-aid-packages-zelenskiy-visit-sources-say-2024-09-25/

[mountaineer]

BDW
@BryanDeanWright
We’re sending weapons & cash to a deeply corrupt country that will not win using money we do not have.
6:12 PM · Sep 25, 2024

[Kamaji]

BDW
@BryanDeanWright
We’re sending weapons & cash to a deeply corrupt country that will not win using money we do not have.
6:12 PM · Sep 25, 2024

Bullshit, on multiple fronts.

[catfish1957]

If only there was a way to get these to the Uke fighters without Zellinsky getting his greasy fingers on them.

[Hoodat]

If only there was a way to get these to the Uke fighters without Zellinsky getting his greasy fingers on them.

It's not Zelenskiy's fingers that are the problem here.  It's Biden's.  Ukraine will be lucky to get a quarter of this.

the White House intends to notify Congress it will move forward with the announcement of a $5.6 billion drawdown from U.S. weapons stocks

This means the Defense Department get's $5.6 billion in cash, and it gives up $1.4 billion in old equipment it was about to throw away, charging $5.6 billion for it.

A second announcement slated for Thursday will be for $2.4 billion worth of aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program, which allows the administration to buy weapons for Ukraine from companies rather than pull them from U.S. stocks.

Instead of fronting them a $2.4 billion credit and letting Ukraine buy what it wants, the Biden Administration acts as the middle man, ordering what they want Ukraine to have, and then taking their cut off the top.

[Kamaji]

It's not Zelenskiy's fingers that are the problem here.  It's Biden's.  Ukraine will be lucky to get a quarter of this.

This means the Defense Department get's $5.6 billion in cash, and it gives up $1.4 billion in old equipment it was about to throw away, charging $5.6 billion for it.


Instead of fronting them a $2.4 billion credit and letting Ukraine buy what it wants, the Biden Administration acts as the middle man, ordering what they want Ukraine to have, and then taking their cut off the top.

Exactly.