How much has the U.S. sent the Ukraine in security assistance since the 2022 Russian invasion?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
How much has the U.S. sent Ukraine in Security Assistance Subtotal since Russia’s invasion in 2022?
That’s a lot of money, but the U.S. federal government spent $6.5 trillion in FY 2022. What portion of the total 2022 federal budget was spent on Ukraine.
Presidential drawdowns are orders directing the Defense Department to immediately deliver defensive equipment and services to foreign countries in crises. President Joe Biden has signed 47 drawdowns for Ukraine as of September 21, 2023. How much has President Biden spent on Presidential drawdowns?
The use of the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to direct a drawdown to provide military assistance under section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) is a valuable tool of U.S. foreign policy in crisis situations. Under what constitutional provision does the president have authority in foreign policy making?
The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) is a Defense Department-led program focused on increasing Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression through military training, equipment, and intelligence support. About how much has the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative spent on training, equipment, and intelligence support for Ukraine?
If the current level of Ukraine funding continues for the next 5 years, how much will the U.S. spend on Ukraine?
President Joe Biden met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss his request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs. Johnson, a staunch conservative allied with Donald Trump, has shown little interest in providing additional money from Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. With a current U.S. government deficit of $1.7 trillion, new funding requests for Israeli defense, and a new conservative Speaker, do you believe that the current level of funding for Ukraine will continue to increase?
What constitutional authority does Congress have regarding funding foreign assistance and how does this illustrate the concept of checks and balances?
The Defense Department regularly updates a comprehensive list of supplies (see list below*) sent to Ukraine. This includes tanks, helicopters, munitions, medical supplies, and other items to support Ukraine's war efforts. Do you think the U.S. should be supplying all these items to Ukraine?
A substantial portion of military aid sent to Ukraine will have to be repaid, though the US has yet to establish a definitive timeline. In May 2022, President Biden signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, authorizing the US military to provide Ukraine and other Eastern European countries with equipment. The law defers repayments from Ukraine indefinitely, meaning that while the government is not required to pay back these loans now, they will have to somewhere down the line — with interest. This is similar to the Lend-Lease Act between the US and the United Kingdom, Soviet Union, France, China, and other Allied nations during World War II, in which payments for military equipment were suspended during the conflict. Does repayment of these funds mean that the United States has an ever stronger interest in Ukraine winning the war?
Learning Extension
Action Extension
Contact President Biden and let him know what you think about funding Ukraine.