The Funding Account was originally Created by Defense Policy Legislation Enacted in late 2015 to help Ukraine Battle Pro-Russian Separatists in Crimea after Moscow Annexed the Region in 2014.
The Trump Administration in 2017 Approved Lethal Arms Sales to Ukraine, taking a step the Obama Administration had never done. For the 2019 Fiscal year, Lawmakers allocated $250 Million in Security Aid to Ukraine, including Money for Weapons, Training, Equipment, and Intelligence Support. Specifically, Congress set aside $50 Million for Weaponry.
The Trump Administration is Slow-Walking $250 Million in Military Assistance to Ukraine, annoying Lawmakers and Advocates who argue the Funding is Critical to keeping Russia at bay. President Trump asked his National Security Team to Review the Funding Program, known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, in order to ensure the Money is being used in the Best Interest of the U.S.
But the Delays come amid Questions over Trump’s approach to Russia, after a Weekend in which the President repeatedly seemed to Downplay Moscow’s Military Intervention in Ukraine and pushed for Russia to be Reinstated into the Group of Seven, an Annual Gathering of the World’s Largest Advanced Economies. The Review is also occurring amid a Broader Internal Debate over whether to Halt or Cut Billions of Dollars in Foreign Aid. U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine has long been seen as a Litmus Test for how Strongly the American Government is Pushing Back against Moscow.
Now, that Funding is being called into question. A Senior Administration Official said the President wants to ensure U.S. interests are being Prioritized when it comes to Foreign Assistance, and is seeking Assurances that other Countries are “paying their fair share.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Former National Security Adviser John Bolton are among the Officials who were asked to Review the Ukraine Security Funding. A Senior Defense Department Official said that “the department has reviewed the foreign assistance package and supports it.”
But the White House Explanation that Trump wants to ensure the Money is being spent Properly isn’t sitting well with Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where Members of Both Parties have pushed to Increase Military Assistance to Ukraine and U.S. Military Efforts to deter Russia in Eastern Europe.
“We are aware of an [Office of Management and Budget] hold on funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative,” House Appropriations Committee Spokesperson Evan Hollander said in a Statement. “We have serious concerns about a freeze on these important appropriated funds, and we are urgently inquiring with the administration about why they are holding up these resources.”
The Funds for Ukraine can’t be Spent while they’re Under Review and the Money Expires at the Sept. 30th, the End of the Fiscal year.
The Call happened on July 25th, 2019 from 9:03am to 9:33am.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky: We are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.
President Trump: I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it. I would like you to find out what happened with this whole situation with Ukraine, they say Crowdstrike... I guess you have one of your wealthy people... The server, they say Ukraine has it. There are a lot of things that went on, the whole situation ..I think you are surrounding yourself with some of the same people. I would like to have the Attorney General call you or your people and I would like you to get to the bottom of it. Whatever you can do, it's very important that you do it, if that's possible.
The White House learns that a CIA Officer had Lodged Allegations against President Trump’s Dealings with Ukraine even as the Officer’s Whistleblower Complaint was moving through a Process meant to Protect him/her against Reprisals. The Officer first shared Information about potential Abuse of Power and a White House Cover-Up with the CIA’s Top Lawyer through an Anonymous Process. The Lawyer shared the Officer’s concerns with White House and Justice Department Officials, following Policy. The Revelations provide New Insight about how the Officer’s Allegations moved through the Bureaucracy of Government.
On Sept. 13th, 2019, Trump Administration Approves Lethal Arms Sales to Ukraine.
The Delay by Trump, and the Messages Zelensky has been receiving from Trump’s White House since he took Office, have generated what Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) described as near Panic in Ukraine over the Faltering Relationship with the U.S., and concern over America’s Commitment to helping Fight further Encroachment by Russia.
If Trump didn’t mean to Dangle Ukraine in front of Russia in the hopes of either getting what he wanted on Biden, or delivering a Big Prize to Putin, he certainly did a good job of making it look like that’s what he was doing.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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