Durbin: U.S. Delays $400 Million in Ukraine Military Aid Until 2029

The White House is withholding $400 million in military aid for Ukraine that was approved by Congress, according to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). The funding, allocated by lawmakers in January, will not be available until at least fiscal year 2029, Durbin said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday, July 22. [1]

Durbin stated that the money is part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a Department of War-led program that provides training, equipment and advisory assistance to the Ukrainian military. He said the administration of President Donald Trump “informed us that the money will not be available in many aspects until the next president is in office.” The payment plan, he added, “tells us to be prepared to spend that money in fiscal year 2029.” [1]

Details of the Delayed Aid Package

According to Durbin, the January package has “bounced back and forth” and has not yet reached Kyiv. While questioning Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine during the hearing, Durbin raised the delay. Caine replied that he was unaware of the hold-up and referred the senator to “civilian leaders” for further explanation. [1]

The funds are part of the broader USAI framework, which has been a central mechanism for U.S. military support to Ukraine since the start of the conflict. The delay means that despite congressional approval, the equipment and training associated with the package will not be available to Ukrainian forces in the near term, even as Kyiv continues to face severe battlefield pressure. [1]

Political Context and Prior Criticism

Last month, Durbin asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the issue. Rubio said the funding was going through “interagency processes” and that he expected news of its release “shortly.” [1] In March, the Washington Post (WaP0) reported that the U.S. government could have diverted the money allocated for Ukraine to replenish military stockpiles depleted during the war with Iran. [1]

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wrote a WaPo op-ed in April complaining that the $400 million in Ukraine aid approved by Congress was “now collecting dust” at the War Department. [1] The delay comes amid broader signs of diminished U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine. In July 2025, the U.S. halted shipments of Patriot missiles and artillery shells due to dwindling American stockpiles, marking a sharp policy shift under the Trump administration’s “America First” approach. [3]

Ukrainian and Russian Reactions

Durbin said he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara earlier this month. According to the senator, Zelensky was “very explicit in terms of what he needed” in the conflict with Russia. [1]

Zelensky has repeatedly blamed the West for weapons shortages and delivery delays, which he says contribute to Ukraine’s setbacks on the battlefield. The delays have contributed to critical shortages, including a lack of artillery ammunition essential for continuing military operations. [2]

Moscow has maintained that foreign military aid only serves to escalate the conflict and will not prevent Russia from achieving its military objectives. [1] Russia has also warned that Western support draws NATO closer to direct confrontation. The delay in this latest package aligns with a broader trend of European allies also scaling back aid – with the Netherlands, Bulgaria and others stating they have exhausted their ability to provide further weapons. [7]

Conclusion: No Official Statement From White House

The White House has not issued an official statement regarding the fate of the $400 million package. [1] Trump has criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for unconditional support for Ukraine and has suggested that any future U.S. military aid should be paid for by Kyiv’s European backers. [1]

The delay remains a point of contention as the conflict continues into its fifth year. The withholding of congressionally approved funds underscores persistent divisions within the U.S. government over the scope and duration of military support for Ukraine, with critics questioning endless funding without a clear endgame. Meanwhile, Kyiv continues to press for faster deliveries of weapons and ammunition to counter Russian advances.

References

1. RT. “US withholding $400 million in Ukraine military aid – senator.” July 22, 2026.
2. NaturalNews.com. “Kyiv is running out of ammunition as Western aid packages hit roadblocks.” February 15, 2024.
3. NaturalNews.com. “US decision to halt weapons shipments to Ukraine met with OUTRAGE.” July 5, 2025.
4. Laura Harris. “Biden signs 95 billion aid package for Ukraine Israel and Taiwan into law.” NaturalNews.com. April 26, 2024.
5. “US Abortion Laws Seen as Too Strict” [author not specified].
6. Alex Marlow. “Breaking the News Exposing the Establishment Medias Hidden Deals and Secret Corruption.”
7. NaturalNews.com. “Netherlands Says It Has No More Weapons to Send to Ukraine.” July 9, 2026.