US aims to help Ukraine build its own defence industry base – US Department of State
The United States will not provide military assistance to Ukraine at the level of 2022-2023, because they seek to help the country build its own military-industrial base.
Source: State Department spokesman Matthew Miller at a briefing, reports European Pravda
Corrected: The previous headline for the story at 08:08 on 5 January read US to support Ukraine but not at level of past two years – US State Department.
However, the main point of Miller's statement lies in the fact that the US will try to help Ukraine build its own defence industry base, but this is not happening now. Therefore, having Congress approve additional funding for Kyiv is crucial.
Quote: "We will continue to support Ukraine… As long as it takes. That does not mean that we are going to continue to support them at the same level of military funding that we did in 2022 and 2023."
Details: Miller says that since Washington wants to help Kyiv stand on its own two feet and develop its own military-industrial base so that it can independently finance, produce, and buy weapons, it does not see the need for continuing assistance at the previous level.
Quote: "But we are not there yet, and that is why it is so critical that Congress pass the supplemental funding bill, because we are not yet at the point where Ukraine can defend itself just based on its own," Miller said.
Background:
- Earlier, the White House announced that the US has no money for further military aid for Ukraine until the adoption of a new package by the US Congress.
- Earlier, US President Joe Biden, commenting on the large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine on the night of 29-30 December, stressed that Congress needs to approve additional aid for Ukraine as soon as possible.
- On 27 December the US announced a $250 million military package for Ukraine, the last one in 2023.
- In October 2023, Biden asked Congress to approve supplementary funding, specifically over $60 billion for Ukraine. But this has been stuck in the Senate due to disagreements between Republicans and Democrats concerning the security of the US-Mexican border.
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