Not even half of the $177 billion the US has promised to Ukraine has arrived nearly three years since the Russian invasion began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed.
In an interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelensky suggested that “lobbying” and “corruption” could be key reasons for the delays in delivering the promised military aid.
He even admitted to asking Washington to send weapons using Ukraine’s cargo planes and save shipping costs, but his attempt was unsuccessful.
“No, I didn’t get this opportunity. My jets stayed put and the US jets, cargo jets moved these weapons,” Zelensky explained, adding that the expensive delivery costs could have been used to buy more arms.
“Is this corruption or not? Or lobbyism?” he asked, though he appeared reluctant to spark controversy that could affect future aid.
The US has been Ukraine’s largest provider of military assistance, supplying advanced weapons such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
Military Aid Issues
In mid-2024, a German think tank reported that only about half of weapons and military equipment pledged to Ukraine by its Western allies had been delivered.
It cited the US, Germany, and the UK as among the countries whose deliveries fell “well below promises.”
This report followed a breakthrough in US Congress, where a substantial $61-billion aid package was approved for Ukraine after months of debate.
In 2023, a US government watchdog highlighted challenges in tracking billions of dollars’ worth of weapons sent to Ukraine, citing a lack of logistics training for inexperienced personnel.
For Kyiv’s part, Zelensky emphasized that his country has implemented a “complex” anti-corruption system to prevent individuals from profiting from the war.
He also dismissed corruption claims as Russian propaganda, stressing that Ukraine strictly punishes those who exploit foreign military aid.
