US State Department says military support for Ukraine will be less than last year

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at the briefing that the United States will continue to support Ukraine "as long as it takes."

"That does not mean that we are going to continue to support them at the same level of military funding that we did in 2022 and 2023," he specified.

According to him, the United States believes that a gradual reduction in the level of support will encourage Ukraine to finance, produce and purchase weapons on its own.

"But we are not there yet, and that is why it is so critical that Congress pass the supplemental funding bill, because we are not yet at the point where Ukraine can defend itself just based on its own," Miller emphasized.

What is known about the US Congress' vote for additional assistance to Ukraine

On December 4, 2023, the White House announced that without a congressional decision, the administration would run out of money to provide weapons to Ukraine to fight Russia by the end of 2023.

After that, the Congress issued an ultimatum to US President Joe Biden regarding assistance to Ukraine: House Speaker Mike Johnson threatened to withdraw support for funding for Kyiv unless the White House agreed to strengthen border security. 

On December 6, U.S. President Joe Biden addresses Congress and calls for the defense of freedom and to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine. Despite this, the Senate fails a procedural vote to begin work on a bill to provide $106 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

On December 8, it was reported that the US administration is considering including funding for anti-migration measures in the south of the country in the bill on aid to Ukraine and Israel to ensure a Republican vote in Congress.

December 15 The White House draws attention to Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent statements about his intentions in Ukraine and urges Congress not to delay approving new aid for Ukraine.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announces that the US Senate has postponed its Christmas vacation and will vote on the aid package again.

December 21 White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby says the administration hopes to approve aid to Ukraine in early January, when Congress returns to work after the Christmas break.

On December 29, U.S. President Joe Biden addressed Congress after Russia's massive terrorist attack on Ukraine.

January 4 Kirby notes that he is not aware of any rapid decision on the possible resumption of military aid to Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that Ukraine has no "plan B" in case the US stops providing aid.