President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine has received only $76 billion out of nearly $177 billion in military aid approved by the United States.
The Ukrainian leader shared this information in an interview with the Associated Press.
Biden is leaving: how much military aid the U.S. has provided to Ukraine since the start of the large warThe Joe Biden administration will provide an additional $7 billion in military aid to Ukraine by the end of its term. The infographic shows military support throughout the large war.Zelensky refuted claims that Kyiv had received more than $177 billion in American assistance.
“When I hear – and have heard before, and today we hear from the U.S. – that America has given Ukraine hundreds of billions, specifically 177 billion dollars, if we want to be more precise, I, as the president of a warring country, tell you – we have received more than 75. In other words, we have never received 100 billion out of those 177, and that is important. We are talking about specific things because we received this not as money, but as weapons – we received weapons worth over 70-something billion,” the president stated.
Zelensky clarified the nature of American funding, noting that the assistance from the U.S. was indeed significant.
“But when they say that Ukraine received 200 billion in support of the army during the war – that is not true. I don’t know where all this money is. Perhaps it is true on paper, there are hundreds of different programs – maybe, we are not arguing, we are very grateful for everything. But we received more than 70 billion – 76, something like that. This is substantial assistance, but it is not 200 billion,” said the head of state.
Additionally, regarding the cessation of funding for humanitarian programs in Ukraine, Zelensky mentioned a $200 million energy program and medical programs.
“These 300-400 million are what the state received for these programs. We will close this down. I will close it with the Europeans or internal resources… And there are many other humanitarian programs, and I know nothing about them except that they existed. Perhaps the U.S. president will conduct an audit and say that there are still some billions, but I do not know where they went,” he said, drawing attention to the American side that programs for veterans and medicine “are important to support during the war.”
Zelensky added that “probably, these organizations were funded by one or another foundation.”
Recall that the U.S. suspended most foreign aid programs for 90 days. However, this does not affect military aid to Ukraine.
It is also known that USAID in Ukraine received an order to suspend project funding. President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the government to prepare a report on the American support programs that were suspended by the new U.S. administration.
Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he does not expect a reduction in military aid to Ukraine from the U.S. after Donald Trump's inauguration.
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