US funding for Ukraine is drying up

Last January, the United States sent Ukraine more than $5 billion in supplies, including armored vehicles, but the new aid package has stalled. opposition from Republican politicians Photo: JULIAN SIMMONDS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Ukraine faces the prospect of allowing Russia to bomb its cities this winter as missile supplies from the United States dry up.

Experts have warned that Ukraine's air defenses are inadequate will be able to fend off all of Vladimir Putin's winter bombing, and the country's military will be forced to choose which targets to defend.

The Joe Biden administration sent the last available package of military aid to the White House on «reduction» terms allowing the US to provide Ukraine with its own military supplies.

White House officials have set a New Year's Eve deadline for Congress to approve a new military aid package for Ukraine, but have faced opposition from Republican politicians who argue the money should be spent on domestic priorities, including border security.

< p>On December 27, the US sent its final shipment of $250 million (£196 million) in military supplies, including air defense missiles to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure from aerial bombardment by Russian forces.

The Pentagon said it «remains critical that Congress act as quickly as possible in the new year» to approve a request for $61 billion in additional funding to allow aid to continue as Republicans and the White House were unable to agree on a deal before Christmas recess in Congress. .

Last January, the United States sent more than $5 billion in supplies to Ukraine, the largest donation in a single month since the war began. The package included the first shipments of American armored vehicles and air defense batteries to protect cities from Russian bombs.

A second major package of $3 billion was sent in August, on Ukraine's Independence Day, to help boost supplies for the country's fall counteroffensive .

Analysts warn that European support will not be enough to allow Ukraine to defend all of its territory from Russia this winter, forcing Volodymyr Zelensky to choose which civilian and military targets to save.

The supply of Patriot interceptor missiles, first delivered to Ukraine in April, is of particular concern.

«There will be some systems where they will have to ration ammunition even more than they do now,» said Jimmy Rushton, a Kiev-based defense analyst.

“They may have to just not hit some targets because they don't have enough interceptors to get around them.

“That's obvious «It's a terrible decision, but if you really think you're running out of missiles to hit incoming targets, you'll have to ration them to protect the targets you think are most important.» /p>

Republicans said they remain willing to discuss a Ukraine funding deal with Biden but insist on major investments in U.S. border security in exchange for their support for the war.

>On Friday, the president warned that «unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people.»

» Congress must step up and act without further delay.» , he said.