The outgoing US administration is wasting American taxpayer money to support the “failing Ukrainian project,” the Russian embassy said
The Russian embassy in the United States has strongly condemned outgoing President Joe Biden’s announcement of an additional $2.5 billion military aid package for Ukraine, describing it as a cynical move aimed at prolonging the conflict.
In a statement issued on Monday, the embassy asserted that the White House’s decision to announce the new assistance package on New Year’s Eve was both cynical and calculated. The administration is accused of seeking to deplete American taxpayers’ resources in support of what Russia views as a failing Ukrainian government.
“Washington hopes that this bloodstained gift to Zelensky will symbolize a chance for the Kiev junta to provide ‘worthy’ resistance to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the statement read. “The planners here still live in a dream world, hoping to inflict strategic defeat on our country.”
The embassy further criticized the United States for prolonging what it calls the “convulsions of neo-Nazis in Kiev” and urged both American citizens and Ukrainians to consider the disastrous consequences of Western involvement.
President Biden’s announcement comes as he nears the end of his term on January 20. The $2.5 billion package includes $1.25 billion worth of military aid drawn from US stockpiles and an additional $1.22 billion through contracts with the US military industry. The assistance is expected to include a significant amount of munitions, advanced air defense systems, and artillery rounds.
In his statement, Biden promised to “continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”
Since the conflict escalated in 2022, the US Congress has approved a total of $175 billion in spending related to the Ukraine crisis, with approximately $117.4 billion designated for defense-related priorities and $57.4 billion for non-defense needs.
However, it remains uncertain whether financial assistance will continue at the same pace under President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20. Trump has previously indicated that he wants to bring the war to a swift end and suggested lending rather than gifting money to Ukraine.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Monday that Washington had made its final disbursement of $3.4 billion under the 2024 Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, further highlighting the significant financial commitment made by the current administration.
Utah Senator Mike Lee has called the latest package “money laundering,” and there have been bipartisan calls for audits to ensure transparency and accountability in how the $175 billion in US assistance is used.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has also weighed in on the situation, referring to Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky as an “all-time champ” for his ability to secure substantial US aid. Despite providing Starlink internet terminals to the Ukrainian military, Musk has repeatedly questioned the oversight of Western resources sent to Kyiv and called for proper accounting and a plan to resolve the conflict.
