White House warns U.S. cash in Ukraine will run out by year end and Biden administration says Congress will ‘kneecap’ Kyiv if it doesn’t approve more funds

The White House is worried about Congress approving more aid to Ukraine as money dries up after nearly two years in which the United States essentially bankrolled Kyiv’s ability to withstand Russian onslaught.

In a strongly worded letter sent to Congress on Monday, Budget Director Shalanda Young wrote: “We do not have the money to support Ukraine in this fight. This is not a problem for next year. The time has come to help democratic Ukraine fight Russian aggression. It’s time for Congress to act.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, President Joe Biden’s administration has provided about $44 billion in security assistance, including munitions and other military equipment.

Republicans have criticized the extent to which the US is sending money to Ukraine. Sen. Ron Johnson, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said it may be time to stop sending more aid.

Scroll down to read the letter.

The White House has sent an even more urgent and pointed message to Congress demanding more aid to Ukraine as money to help in its nearly two-year conflict with Russia runs out.

More Ukrainians continue to die every day in the eastern European conflict that began after Russia invaded in February 2022. Pictured: People remove debris from a building damaged by shelling in Donetsk, a Russian-controlled region of Ukraine, on Sunday, December 3.

“We have no idea what the endgame of the Biden administration is in Ukraine,” Johnson told John Catsimatidis during a Cats roundtable interview on Sunday. “I have nothing but sympathy for the Ukrainian people. Nothing but contempt for Putin. But Putin is not going to lose this war. They have resources. This is not a fair fight.

“Russia will not lose this war. You must acknowledge this reality. I don’t like this reality, but it’s true. The only way to end this war is through a negotiated settlement,” he added.

In her letter, Young wrote that “without Congressional action, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to purchase more weapons and equipment for Ukraine, as well as to provide equipment from the US military stockpile.”

“There is no magic funding source that can meet this need. We’re out of money and almost out of time.”

The billions sent to Ukraine are an effort to help the Eastern European country “preserve its territorial integrity, protect its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO,” according to the State Department.

The White House is increasingly concerned about Russia’s victory in Ukraine and says the amount of US aid cannot be replaced by other countries.

“Cutting off the flow of American weapons and equipment would kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only jeopardizing Ukraine’s gains but also increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories,” Young writes.

The letter was sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Democrats are poised to push for more support, and top Republicans in both chambers appear to support additional resources for Ukraine after receiving Young’s letter.

Speaker Johnson has twice previously voted against Ukraine aid packages, but is now officially a supporter, joining McConnell.

Monday’s message used the most alarming language yet from the Biden administration, calling on Congress to approve increased aid to Ukraine as the conflict with Russia approaches the two-year mark in February.

Young says the letter is intended to “express the urgent need we face as Congress decides whether we will continue to fight for freedom around the world or ignore the lessons we have learned from history and allow (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and autocracy to prevail “

In trying to persuade Republicans to continue funding the war effort in Ukraine, the White House is taking a different approach, pointing to money being pumped into red and purple states from money approved to help Kyiv.

Last week, the administration released a map showing how states benefit from aid packages to produce weapons for Ukraine, pointing to the fact that about 60 percent of Ukraine’s spending remained within U.S. borders.

White House Budget Director Shalanda Young writes that not sending more money would be handing victory to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the “autocracy.”

“It has improved our own military readiness as the Department of Defense purchases new equipment to replace what we send to Ukraine, launches and expands production lines, and supports good-paying jobs in dozens of states across the country,” Young said.

She pointed to the fact that nearly all 50 states benefit, and noted that air defense systems for both Ukraine and Israel are being built in Alabama, Texas and Georgia, all historically red states (with the exception of Georgia, which is blue).

The Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), Young notes, is made in West Virginia, Arkansas and Texas, and javelins are made in Alabama, the redder states.

In the swing states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, tactical vehicles are being produced and shipped to Ukraine, she added.

“Every day this war continues, more Ukrainians die,” Senator Johnson said on Sunday. “Most of Ukraine will be destroyed. The sooner they reach a negotiated settlement, the better, in my opinion.”

“This war must end. We won’t like the result, but every day we will like the result less and less.”