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Biden administration won’t be able to spend remaining $6.5 bln to arm Ukraine — report

In order to spend the remaining funds in December and January, the US would have to send $110 million worth of weapons every day, the Wall Street Journal reported

NEW YORK, November 27. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden’s administration does not have enough time to fully utilize the billions of dollars that Congress authorized for arming Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported.

It will be up to President-elect Donald Trump what to do with the remaining money. According to US officials, the current administration still has more than $6.5 billion left in funding that allows the Defense Department to transfer weapons and equipment to Ukraine from its inventories. Sending larger quantities of weapons would affect the Pentagon’s own fighting capability and face logistical challenges, they said.

In order to spend the remaining funds in December and January, the US would have to send $110 million worth of weapons every day - a nearly impossible task. Analysts believe the remaining funds will give the Trump administration significant leverage.

The Pentagon plans to ramp up shipments of weapons to $500 million-$750 million a month, focusing on artillery and ammunition, which are easier and faster to deliver. However, heavier equipment, such as tanks or armored vehicles, takes more time to inspect, test and prepare for shipment.

During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly stated that he would achieve a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis even before his inauguration.

The Biden administration actively supported Kiev with significant financial and military resources. This support included arms supplies, training for the Ukrainian military, and humanitarian aid, all of which totaled more than $59 billion. Russia has repeatedly said that funneling weapons into Ukraine will not reduce Moscow’s resolve or change the course of the special military operation.