Analyst explains why lend-lease for Ukraine has not been activated since 2022

This was stated by Illia Neskhodovskyi, head of the Analytical Department at ANTS, on Espreso TV.

“The program was adopted in 2022 with the goal of influencing Russia's stance. The U.S. could have introduced a lend-lease similar to the one used during World War II, providing the necessary aid under the same rules and conditions to pressure Russia and force it to end its aggression. The idea was that the U.S. could increase its support for Ukraine. However, this lend-lease arrangement was restrictive for the U.S. because it couldn’t impose any demands on Ukraine,” he said.

As a result, the lend-lease program was never fully implemented, and the U.S. opted for other forms of support that better suited its interests. Specifically, aid was provided directly from the U.S. president, Neskhodovskyi noted.

“Now, Biden has also intensified his efforts to allocate all the funds included in this program. It’s also important to mention the $61 billion financial package that was approved a year ago. This package was beneficial for the American economy because it wasn’t just a transfer of military equipment; it also involved orders for American factories and the replacement of products sent to Ukraine. This was advantageous for the United States, allowing them to support this transfer mechanism, which gives them flexibility in geopolitical terms, enabling them to make concessions or, on the contrary, apply pressure on the aggressor to achieve their objectives,” he explained.

According to Neskhodovskyi, if the Republicans oppose it, even if a law on lend-lease is passed and funds are allocated, they still may not be disbursed.

“It’s not just about Donald Trump coming to power. He has support in both houses. Therefore, even if a lend-lease law is enacted, it won’t be implemented without the support of the Republicans,” he added.

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, but it lacks provisions for extending the Lend-Lease Act for Ukraine's defense.