Where did America’s $300 million in new aid to Ukraine come from?

The White House announced a new military aid package for Ukraine just months after it revealed the country had run out of money to supply Kyiv with both the ammunition and weapons it needed to defend against Russia. 

American officials have been working hard to find new ways to send military assistance to Ukraine following the political partisanship that has left the issue of more security aid in limbo since Biden proposed it in October. 

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Roughly $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine has been held up by Republicans as they have tried to negotiate concessions from President Joe Biden for the cash. However, it seems some extra funding has been found. 

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan revealed that the $300 million in security aid for Ukraine was heading Kyiv’s way. But where did the Biden administration find the money for this military package and what will be in it?

During a press briefing on March 12th, Sullivan told reporters money for the new military aid package to Ukraine was the result of “unanticipated cost-savings” that were found in contracts negotiated with the Department of Defense. 

“When we sent Ukraine weapons last year, we negotiated contracts to replenish those weapons in U.S. stockpiles,”  Sullivan explained to reporters, adding: “We budgeted the full amount of appropriated funds for those contracts.”

“It turns out we negotiated well. Those contracts came in under budget, so we have a modest amount of funding available... We’re able to use these cost-savings to make this modest amount of new security assistance available,” Sullivan said. 

The money has been earmarked to take care of some of Ukraine’s most pressing issues and Ukraine will be getting a large supply of artillery rounds as well as more ammunition for American-made rocket artillery weaponry.  

“It is assistance that Ukraine desperately needs to hold the line against Russian attacks and to push back against the continuing Russian onslaught in the east and in other parts of Ukraine,” Sullivan explained about the aid package. 

Unfortunately, $300 million dollars doesn’t go a long way in war and the ammunition that is being sent to Ukraine may only keep Ukraine’s artillery guns firing for a short period of time. Sullivan said the package isn’t nearly enough. 

Ukraine’s battlefield needs could see its new ammunition from the United States used up within weeks. “It goes without saying, this package does not displace and should not delay the critical need to pass the bipartisan national security bill,” Sullivan said. 

“There is no other way around this,” Sullivan said. “The House has got to pass the supplemental as soon as possible to allow us to continue the flow of… vital security assistance to Ukraine.” 

“The world is watching. The clock is ticking. And we need to see action as rapidly as possible, even as we do everything in our power to get Ukraine what it needs in its hour of need,” Sullivan concluded before taking questions. 

The United States hasn’t provided Ukraine with any military assistance since December 2023 when its drawdown stocks fell to zero according to Reuters. However, the White House has looked at a range of options as it waits for further security aid to be passed. 

Officials have looked at seizing some of the $285 billion in frozen Russian funds within American purview to help pay for weapons for Ukraine. However, that step has yet to be taken by the Biden administration. 

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“When Russian troops advance and its guns fire, Ukraine does not have enough ammunition to fire back. That’s costing terrain. It’s costing lives. And it’s costing us, the United States and the NATO Alliance, strategically,” Sullivan said while answering questions.