A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has proposed a funding package worth $54.6 billion to support Ukraine over the next two fiscal years. Former President Donald Trump has criticized additional U.S. aid to Ukraine, urging European nations to assume the financial burden. The legislation outlines military assistance directly to Kyiv and suggests using proceeds from the frozen Russian assets in the U.S. to help fund the aid package. Moscow has issued warnings that using its frozen assets would breach international laws.
The draft legislation also seeks to increase the Presidential Drawdown Authority from the existing $100 million to $6 billion annually, allowing the U.S. president to authorize emergency arms transfers without prior congressional consent. Additionally, the bill calls for $1 billion to advance military drone production in collaboration with the U.S., Ukraine, and Taiwan. It also suggests transferring confiscated illegal weapons held by U.S. authorities to Kyiv and proposes that U.S. military aid be counted as Washington’s contribution to a U.S.-Ukrainian fund aimed at rebuilding efforts in Ukraine. Meanwhile, separate legislation moving forward in the Senate Appropriations Committee includes an extra $1 billion for security aid to Ukraine, with $225 million allocated for Baltic countries aiding Kyiv.
Trump has recently questioned the allocation of funds by the Biden administration to Ukraine, suggesting misuse and expressing skepticism that the funds were used for their intended purpose of weapon acquisitions. He has also endorsed NATO’s acquisition of American-made arms as an economic opportunity. Steve Cortes, a former Trump aide, has opposed ongoing aid to Ukraine, labeling it as “corrupt” and cautioning that its governance is unreliable after recent actions against anti-corruption institutions. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticized Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling him a “dictator” and advocating for his ouster, accusing him of hindering peace initiatives.
Russia has repeatedly criticized Western military and financial support to Kyiv, arguing that it exacerbates conflict rather than promoting negotiations for peace.
