Congress passed a temporary funding bill on September 25. The bill, a continuing resolution (CR), prevents the government from shutting down. Its main purpose is to keep most government programs running at the same 2024 budget levels until December 20. This bill did not support the PDA (Presidential Drawdown Authority). The PDA permits the United States to move weapons from its stockpiles. However, the usage limit was decreased from $7.8 billion to $100 million. This could negatively impact US assistance for Ukraine as winter comes.
On the same day, the Department of Defense made the announcement. They declared a $375 million aid package for Ukraine. This utilizes the current PDA. However, Biden is making plans to add more aid to PDAs to avoid wasting military equipment. Quick actions are needed from the Department of Defense. There is no confirmation that later, Congress will permit more PDAs. If the Presidential Drawdown Authority is less, then there must be a need for other ways to help Ukraine.
The Biden administration has some other ways to help Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war without sending weapons. One way is to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to target Russia. In May, the US allowed Ukraine to hit Russian targets in response to a Russian attack on Kharkiv. If the US rethinks expanding this permission, it could assist Ukraine strike important military sites in Russia. However, many European countries stand in favor of this idea, but the US is confused. According to the administration, if they allowed Ukraine to use Western weapons, it could make the conflict worse.
Another way is to improve the training of Ukrainian forces. The US should make efforts to improve training of Ukraine plots. The Biden administration recently announced a $375 million package that includes training for 18 more Ukrainian pilots by next year. Additionally, F-16 fighter jets reached in August. To operate jets effectively, Ukraine needs this training.
Right now, the F-16s are focused on defending against Russian attacks and protecting civilians. While this is crucial, more training is needed for the jets to have a bigger impact in battle.
To fix military equipment in Ukraine, the US should allow military contractors to work in the nation. This summer, there was hope that the Biden administration would let the contractors repair the weapons. But this plan has not been successful till now and doesn’t move forward. At the same time, Ukraine repairs many weapons by itself. They used secure social media platforms to chat and video-call the technician. Some repairs are done very hard due to the complexity. The US also collaborated with other nations and sent them to Ukraine for the equipment-fixing purpose. Poland is one of the best decisions.
Also, the US and its partners need to make sanctions against Russia stronger. A Ukrainian intelligence website shows Western parts found in Russian weapons, which means Russia still gets many of these components. Even if sanctions are tighter, countries like China, Iran, and North Korea will likely keep supplying technology and support to help Russia. Strengthening sanctions is important to limit Russia’s actions in the war.
The United States has many opportunities to help Ukraine, but due to election season, the nation faces a tough period. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy recently planned a visit to a Pennsylvania factory. This factory makes important shells for Ukraine’s safety against Russia. It pointed out the increasing tension in the US due to the coming election campaign.
It is vital to keep both parties united to deter not only Russia but also China, Iran, and North Korea.
Zelenskyy told Congress that striking military targets in Russia was more important than additional funds. This gives lawmakers a chance to support Ukraine without spending more money. Allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons against Russia, increasing military training, and tightening sanctions are key actions that don’t require extra funding. These measures could significantly help Ukraine succeed against Russian aggression and ensure its victory in the ongoing conflict.
