The Pentagon is considering a “Plan B” for aid to Ukraine

The Department of Defense still has regarding $4 billion. US dollars from the funds allocated by the President’s authorization to Ukraine, which allows the Pentagon to send military equipment from its stockpile to Kyiv.

But the Pentagon has previously been reluctant to spend the rest of the money without assurances that Congress would reimburse it under the administration’s $60 billion budget. $100,000 in additional funding requests, as taking from the Defense Department’s stockpile without any plan to replenish this equipment might affect U.S. military readiness.

Twitter photo/US House of Representatives

But with Ukraine increasingly short of U.S. military aid and House Republican leadership refusing to vote for more funding, senior defense officials are wondering whether there are any internal financial reserves that would allow the department to spend at least some of the remaining $4 billion. dollars to help Ukraine fight once morest Russia.

Officials emphasized that no decisions have been made yet. But talks regarding that option and other possible “Plan Bs” have gained more urgency in the past few weeks as the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine grows dire, the officials said.

Ukrainian troops have been forced to conserve ammunition and have lost some territory in the east, including the important town of Avdiyivka, which fell to the Russians earlier this month.

Asked regarding the possibility of using 4 billion dollars, Defense Department spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn responded: “The Department of Defense continues to urge Congress to approve an additional budget to support Ukraine in its time of need and replenish our supplies.”

Officials have said the department may spend some of that $4 billion. dollars even without finding internal funds that might be used to supplement this amount. It would not be the first time that unexpected financial sources might appear for the Pentagon.

Zuma press/Scanpix/Ukraine soldiers

Last year, the Defense Department announced it had discovered an accounting error that cost the Defense Department $6.2 billion. dollars overestimated the aid provided to Ukraine. That extra money gave the department a buffer that allowed it to provide military aid to Ukraine longer than originally planned, CNN previously reported.

Asked Tuesday if the department was considering spending some of the remaining money, Pentagon Press Secretary Gen. Patrick Ryder said he might not say anything, but the Pentagon continues to look for ways to continue supporting Ukraine.

Additionally, another Defense Department spokesman told CNN that the next aid package for Ukraine, if received, “will certainly include critical munitions.” Discussions are also underway on how and where to deploy military equipment so that it can be sent to Ukraine as soon as possible once additional sources of funding are found, the official said.

According to CNN sources, no decisions have been made at the Pentagon yet.

Ukraine’s latest security package worth up to 250 million USD, was published on December 27. Some weapons and equipment from previous packages and Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) packages are still on their way to Ukraine, but the US has not announced any new packages since then.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told CNN this week that Ukraine would face war without continued US support.

“The people will be ready, but the ammunition will not be ready and the brigades will not be ready … not only for our counterattack, they will not be ready to defend themselves, to stay strong.” It will be very difficult,” he said.