The White House is asking Congress to approve nearly $12B in Ukrainian budget aid.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Director of the US Agency for International Development Samantha Power urged Congress to approve the allocation of $11.8B in budget support for Ukraine.

Key officials in the Biden administration explain that direct budget support for Ukraine is linked to its successes on the battlefield, ensuring that the government and the economy function, and allows Ukraine to focus its resources on its defense.

It is noted that the amount of support is less than the amount allocated in 2023 ($14.4B) due to “US investments in the success of Ukraine and work to attract assistance from other countries.” They added that this amount is necessary to cover Ukraine’s basic needs.

Although Canada and the EU provide more support as a percentage of GDP, these and other sources are insufficient to cover the Ukrainian budget deficit.