On May 24th, Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reported on his official Telegram channel that only 15% of the USD 40 billion in US aid to Ukraine would be spent directly on Ukraine. Volodin notes that 35% of the money goes to funding the US military, 45.2% will be spent on “other countries”, and 4.8% will be spent on refugees, the work of the US Embassy in Ukraine and diplomatic support.
Volodin’s post was published by the following Russian media outlets:TASS, crimea.ria.ru, Russia Today, Комсомольская правда, Московский Комсомолец, ntv.ru, vedomosti.ru, rg.ru, smotrim.ru, regnum.ru. In addition, an article was published on Georgian, Abkhazian and Ossetian Sputnik about the ongoing military clashes in the Sievierodonetsk region, which also includes Volodin’s statement.
Volodin’s statement was published by Georgian ‘Sezoni TV’ and Pia.ge.
Vyacheslav Volodin’s statement is manipulative and gives the false impression that only a small part (15%) of the USD 40 billion in aid will be allocated to Ukraine. In fact: 1. 35% of the amount will be used specifically for the armed forces and military equipment used to assist Ukraine and will not be used to fund the US Armed Forces in general; 2. Most of the money is allocated to help “other countries,” including Ukraine.
Volodin’s assertion that only 15% (6 billion) of the USD 40 billion allocated by the United States to help Ukraine will be spent directly on Ukraine is manipulative and misleading. Volodin allegedly meant the 6 billion in aid allocated specifically for Ukraine’s armed forces, including spending on weapons and other equipment, as well as training and salaries for troops.
Nearly half of the USD 40 billion (USD 19 billion) is allocated for defence, of which USD 6 billion is for the Ukrainian Armed Forces directly, USD 9.05 billion is for US weapons deployments to Ukraine, and USD 3.9 billion is for European troops stationed in Europe.
USD 16 billion is earmarked for Ukraine’s economic support, global humanitarian needs, and international programs, while USD 2 billion is reserved for NATO allies and long-term support for US Department of Defense modernization programs.
- 35% of the money will be used specifically for military equipment and armed forces used to help Ukraine
The claim that 35% of the money goes to fund the US Armed Forces is manipulative since this amount is used specifically for the armed forces and military equipment used to help Ukraine and not to fund the US Armed Forces in general.
35% of the USD 40 billion is USD 14 billion, with Volodymyr likely to add up the USD 9 billion allocated to the US to rebuild its military armaments in Ukraine and the USD 3.9 billion allocated to European troops.
USD 9 billion has been allocated by the United States to replace military equipment (artillery, armoured vehicles, anti-tank and air weapons) sent to Ukraine so far and in the future. As for 3.9 billion, this amount was allocated by the US to provide financial support to 10,500 troops sent to the region to support NATO member states.
- Most of the money is allocated not only to “other countries,” including Ukraine
Volodin also manipulates with the proportion of funds allocated to other countries, including Ukraine.
Per the 40 billion aid package, one of the most significant funds allocated to Ukraine is USD 8.776 billion, which is focused on responding to urgent needs in Ukraine (including mainly humanitarian needs, as well as the fight against human trafficking and support of the Ukrainian government). Of this, 760 million USD is allocated to prevent or respond to the global food crisis.
Most of the funds underscored in the package that mention other countries cover Ukraine as well. For instance, USD 4 billion is allocated for the foreign military financing program, although this amount allows Ukraine and other countries affected by the current war to purchase new military equipment.
The document highlights that more than USD 5 billion has been allocated to address the impact of rising food prices due to the global food crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war. The section that deals with the provision of USD 4.35 billion for emergency food aid stresses that the money should be spent on famine-stricken countries, as well as on the humanitarian needs of the people living inside Ukraine. According to the article by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the delay in food exports from Ukraine and Russia has particularly affected the African population; hence a significant portion of the aid is likely to go there.
Of the USD 40 billion, funds are also allocated to America’s partners; for example, America can provide logistical support worth USD 500 million to friendly foreign countries. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, this part is likely to target countries that have sent military equipment to Ukraine.
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