Ukraine says US has given no details on how US$400 million in military aid will be spent

Ukraine's most senior diplomat in the United States says Kyiv still has no information from Washington about how the Pentagon plans to spend US$400 million in military assistance allocated to the country under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

Denys Sienik, Ukraine's charge d'affaires in the US, told public broadcaster Suspilne that Ukrainian officials had made further attempts to clarify the situation with American representatives in Wiesbaden and with the US Department of Defense, but had received no response.

Sienik said there had been no confirmation from either the United States or NATO, including the NSATU mission in Wiesbaden, about where the funds are, which contracts have been signed or will be signed, or what exactly the money will be spent on. "Essentially, we have no information whatsoever about what is happening," he said.

The diplomat said Ukraine is waiting for Washington to explain how the funds will be allocated and which contracts they will cover.

According to Sienik, the money could address several pressing needs of the Ukrainian armed forces, including the procurement of ammunition, logistical support and the maintenance and operation of F-16 fighter jets.

"This is a substantial sum. We would very much like to receive answers to our questions and understand when and exactly what these funds will be used for. This is extremely important," he added.

On 30 September, the Pentagon awarded contracts covering almost all of the US$400 million in aid allocated to Ukraine by Congress, just one day before the end of the US financial year.

The uncertainty over the funds comes amid wider strains over US military support. Last month, the United States threatened to suspend deliveries under the PURL programme in response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Sources later told the Financial Times that the threat was never carried out and the programme continued to operate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously said he is still awaiting approval from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for the delivery of additional interceptor missiles. Zelenskyy said Ukraine has been receiving an average of just 12 missiles per month for its Patriot air defence systems this year.