Bipartisan Senators Urge Pentagon to Release $600 Million Aid

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, urging the Department of Defense to disburse $600 million in delayed security assistance for Ukraine and other Eastern European allies. The funding, allocated by Congress last year, includes $400 million for Ukraine and $200 million for defense programs in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Lawmakers from both parties have expressed growing frustration in recent weeks over the administration's delay in providing the aid and a lack of updates on its status. In a joint letter, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley stated that Ukraine has persistently and bravely repelled a four-year Russian onslaught, but its military needs and deserves continued American support. The letter was also signed by Republican Senators Kevin Cramer and Thom Tillis and Democratic Senators Michael Bennet and Catherine Cortez Masto.

The senators noted that during a congressional hearing over three weeks ago, Hegseth told lawmakers the Ukraine funding had been released and a spending plan would soon be sent to Congress. However, the Pentagon failed to meet a promised May 15 deadline for...