““The aid provided to Ukraine through the Pentagon is less than 14 percent of what it would cost Washington to protect Europe from Russia””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“Instead, we should worry about what the refusal of aid to Ukraine will cost. Right now, by helping Kiev, the United States is preventing Russia from directly threatening Eastern and Central Europe, which will undoubtedly absorb more American resources. In fact, Washington may be deterring a direct war between NATO and Moscow, in which United States forces would have to fight,” the report concludes.
Read also: The Pentagon released details of the $500 million aid package to Ukraine
The authors of the report calculated what Washington’s additional expenses could be in the event that Russia wins in Ukraine. According to their findings, maintaining security in the strategic environment in which Russia defeated Ukraine could cost the US an additional $808 billion in defense spending over the next five years.
“These resources will be required in addition to the current planned defense budget for the same period and will be used to build defense capabilities, capabilities, and posture to ensure American security and meet current commitments to NATO in a new, more dangerous strategic environment,” it said. in the analysis.
According to the authors’ assessment, in case of Ukraine’s defeat, the USA would have to spend additionally on defense:
- 2025 – 160 billion dollars
- 2026 – 156 billion
- 2027 – 163 billion
- 2028 – 159 billion
- 2029 – 170 billion
Instead, AEI adds, from 2022, the United States Congress allocated $112 billion to the Pentagon to help Kyiv.
“This means that the aid provided to Ukraine through the Pentagon is less than 14 percent of what it would cost Washington to defend Europe against Russia after its victory. 112 billion dollars is also spent mainly inside the country, on its own production of weapons. In other words, allowing Russia to defeat Ukraine would cost the United States about seven times more than not allowing Russia to win,” the researchers say.
The Bloomberg agency, citing the AEI report, notes that this research organization “is known for its more hawkish views on defense”.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the allocation of a $500 million aid package to Ukraine in his opening speech at the Ramstein meeting on January 9. This is his last meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in this position.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration has accelerated the sending of military aid to Ukraine, fearing that Donald Trump, after returning to the White House, may refuse to transfer to Kyiv the funds allocated by Congress, which at that time will not be spent.
Despite this, on January 8, the deputy spokesperson of the head of the US Department of Defense, Sabrina Singh, reported that several billion dollars will remain unused.