Zelensky’s adviser says Kiev will run out of funds by January — Politico
"We’re at the end of our rope in terms of the existing funding," the newspaper quoted the advisor, whose name was not disclosed
WASHINGTON, December 6. /TASS/. The Kiev government is experiencing an acute lack of money, and its funds will run out completely after December, an adviser to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told the Politico newspaper.
"We’re at the end of our rope in terms of the existing funding," the newspaper quoted the advisor, whose name was not disclosed. "It’s not going to go beyond December."
The statement was made prior to Zelensky’s planned plea for additional funding to US senators. It was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, but the Ukrainian president cancelled it "at the last minute," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
According to the Ukrainian presidential adviser, Zelensky was to tell US senators that without additional funding, the Kiev government’s troops are likely to lose swaths of its territories. " And ultimately Kiev itself could be at risk," he added.
US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on December 4 that the US administration had used 97% of the Congress-approved funds earmarked for assistance to Ukraine. On the same day, Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden administration, issued a letter to Congressional leadership warning that the US would run out of resources to help Ukraine by the end of the year, if the lawmakers turned down the administration’s financing draft.
In October, the US administration asked Congress to set aside extra budgetary funds for the 2024 fiscal year, which began in the United States on October 1, in assistance to Israel and Ukraine, as well as to contain China and Russia in the Asia Pacific region. In all, the US plans to spend around $106 billion for these purposes. Several House and Senate Republicans have spoken out against continuing financial assistance to Kiev. The Politico newspaper said on Monday that the Senate’s vote on assistance to Kiev, which is due on December 6, is likely to fail due to the Republicans’ position.