The administration of US President Donald Trump has not included funding for military assistance to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) programme, which has been in place since 2016, in the draft defence budget for fiscal year 2027. This was reported by the Acting Financial Manager of the US Department of War Jules Gerst.
“Yes, that’s correct. There is no funding for USAI in this budget,” he said at a US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, responding to a senator’s question about the budget request not providing funds for USAI.
Meanwhile, the total United States defence spending under discussion for 2027 is about $1.5 trillion – a record high, AP noted, exceeding the current level by 50%.
Congress is expected to make a decision before the start of the new fiscal year on 1 October.
Earlier, CBS News television channel, citing US officials, reported that since 28 February, the US has spent about $50 billion on the operation “epic rage” against Iran. According to the TV channel’s interlocutors, the sum of $25 billion, named on 29 April by Pentagon Chief Financial Officer Jules Gerst, does not take into account damaged and destroyed equipment, as well as damage to US military facilities.
According to CBS News, most of the spending goes to replenish ammunition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously expressed concern that a protracted US-Israeli war against Iran could weaken US support for Kiev. Zelensky said he was most concerned about Patriot missiles needed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles because Ukraine still lacks an effective alternative.
According to data released in February 2025, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US Congress has allocated about $183 billion to support Ukraine, of which $65.9 billion has been allocated to military aid.