But will NATO and America run out of funds to support this madness in 2024?
EU pays final $1.65 billion of aid package
for Ukraine
Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The European Union announced the final $1.65 billion payment of a $19.7 billion aid package for Ukraine Thursday.
"Ukraine is receiving unprecedented financial support from the EU in its fight against the aggressor. Today we have received the last 1.5 billion euros of the 18-billion-euro financial aid package. Hope for continued unwavering support from the EU," Denys Shmyhal posted to X Thursday.
"The Commission has paid the final instalment of €15 billion under the macro-financial assistance operation in the history of the instrument," the European Commission said in a statement Thursday.
The macro-financial assistance package was intended to help Ukraine fund public services, infrastructure and public salaries.
And don't forget the ravenous hunger of corruption rampant in the country.
"With this instrument, the EU helped Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs in 2023 by means of stable, predictable and sizeable financial support," the commission said.
The commission said Ukraine had met anti-corruption criteria.
"Ukraine has notably achieved important progress to enhance macro-financial stability with the improvement of the bankruptcy and insolvency framework, as well as to strengthen the rule of law with for instance the strengthening of the independence of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office," the commission said.
Last month NATO ministers pledged continued support for Ukraine for as long as necessary.
Of course, because NATO must keep the inventories of war moving no matter what it costs NATO countries or Ukraine. And when there is nothing left of Ukraine, NATO will descend upon the poor country and lend Ukraine kazillions of dollars to pay American and European companies to rebuild it. This is modern warfare.
"Allies remain steadfast in their commitment to further step up political and practical support to Ukraine as it continues to defend its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," NATO ministers said in a statement in November.
U.S. support for Ukraine has been caught in legislative wrangling with congressional Republicans saying they will hold up funds until they get concessions on what they characterize as border security funding.
Congress was expected to hold a vote this week but will instead take the up issue in January after the holiday recess.
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U.S. announces $250 million in Ukraine military aid
as funds run out
Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Biden administration announced an additional $250 million in military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday, as U.S. funding for the country's nearly two-year war against Russia runs out.
The package of weapons and equipment, which is the final military package of the year, includes "air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions and more than 15 million rounds of ammunition," the U.S. State Department announced in a statement Wednesday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also urged Congress to "act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future."
Last week, the Biden administration said it was planning to provide one more Ukraine military package this year, without lawmakers' approval, after unveiling an emergency supplement funding bill in October that would provide $60 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
The funding has met strong resistance from Republicans, who are demanding the package include more money go to securing the U.S. border. Earlier this month, Republicans in the Senate stalled Ukraine military aid in a 49-51 vote.
"Unless Congress acts to pass the president's national security supplemental funding request, this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine," Blinken warned earlier this month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Washington, D.C., two weeks ago, to urge Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden to provide more funding to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"American leadership is crucial to keep unity together for the entire free world," Zelensky warned, as Biden urged Congress to act before the end of the year.
"Without supplemental funding, we're rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has," Biden said. "Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong."
A coalition of more than 50 countries, including the United States, has provided support for Ukraine's forces since Russia invaded in February 2022. The United States has provided more than $46 billion in military aid.
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