A bipartisan group of senators appealed to the Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney with a request to release $250 million in authorized military security assistance for Ukraine.
Senators Rob Portman, Ron Johnson, Jeanne Shaheen, Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal reminded Donald Trump’s administration that Ukraine’s armed conflict with Russia has left ten thousand Ukrainians dead, as reported by The Hill.
"U.S.-funded security assistance has already helped turn the tide in this conflict, and it is necessary to ensure the protection of the sovereign territory of this young country, going forward", the politicians wrote in their collective letter.
They stressed that the aid is crucial for Ukraine’s long-term stability. Moreover, it has already been approved by the US Congress.
"We strongly urge you to direct the Department of Defense to obligate these funds immediately," the senators requested.
At the same time, the US Department of Defense representatives have told journalists that they do not publicly comment on internal budget deliberations. They are, however, working with Ukraine's government and the Multinational Joint Commission to estimate the specific needs of Ukraine's army.
As Politico reported last week, the US President Donald Trump wanted to ensure the funds are distributed in the best interest of the United States.
Trump has long been a controversial figure in international politics. As “Apostrophe” reported earlier, the American leader has faced a wave of criticism over his statements during the G7 summit in Biarritz. President Trump spent a plethora of time pushing for Russia’s return to G7 and suggested inviting Vladimir Putin to the next G7 meeting. Russia was suspended from its membership in G8 after the annexation of Ukrainian Crimea in 2014.