KYIV -- The Trump administration has released $250 million in U.S. military aid to Ukraine -- funds that it had held up despite criticism that the money was desperately needed to counter Russian aggression and territorial expansion.
The announcement of the aid disbursement came ahead of a Senate Appropriations panel debate on September 12 in which lawmakers from both parties were expected to criticize Trump for holding back the funds, which Congress already had approved.
Lawmakers have credited legislation threatened by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin with forcing Trump to hand over the military aid.
Several Republican senators, including Trump ally Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said they would have voted with Democrats.
Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, said: "We support Ukraine. Period. End of discussion."
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow have been troubled since 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and began supporting pro-Russia separatist fighters who are battling Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine sees the aid as vital to bolstering its military and controlling Russian aggression.
RFE/RL's correspondent in Kyiv reports that Ukrainian officials are "very relieved" to hear the news that Trump is allowing the aid to be disbursed.
Ukraine's defense budget in 2017 was about $5.2 billion, so the $250 million in U.S. aid represents a boost of about 5 percent.
Trump earlier refusal to disburse the aid prompted critics to charge that he was holding back the aid as a concession to Russia.
Trump Administration Releases $250 Million In Military Aid To Ukraine
Related
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Inside The Ukraine-US Minerals Deal (It's Not What You Might Think)
2Will The US Leave NATO? Officials Push Back Against Rising Doubts
3Zelenskyy Says Relations With U.S. Salvageable Despite Heated Exchange In White House
4Analysis: 4 Takeaways From The Disaster In The Oval Office
5Pride, Horror, And Concern: What Ukrainians Think About The Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Standoff
6Taliban Declares End To Doha Agreement With The United States
7Europe Pushes For Lasting Peace, But Can Russia's Battlefield Momentum Be Halted?
8Russia's Foreign Mercenaries In Ukraine War: Military Leak Shows Bosnian Serb Fighter As GRU Officer
9Russia’s Invasion Plan Vs. Reality: A Map Of Miscalculations
10Starmer Says 'Time To Act' On Ukraine As Europe At Crossroads
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
