The United States is on track to give over $100 billion to Ukraine in less than a year.
SO WHAT
Americans are picking up a hefty tab.
THE CHART
On Nov. 15, President Joe Biden asked Congress for $38 billion to support Ukraine’s continuing war effort — on top of $67 billion the lawmakers have already approved since Russia invaded the country in February.
If Congress approves the latest round of aid, then total U.S. financial assistance to Ukraine this year, military and otherwise, would be 24 times as big as Ukraine’s $4.35-billion defense budget in 2021.
- At $105 billion, the U.S. aid would be 67% more than Russia’s entire defense budget of $62.2 billion last year.
- It would also be twice what America spent annually on its own war in Afghanistan, $43 billion on average from 2002 to 2020.
- Divided evenly among Americans, U.S. Ukraine spending would be a bit more than the average household’s monthly utilities bill.
THE REACTION
While most Americans have continued to support aiding Ukraine against Russia, polls have shown mounting skepticism, with an increasingly partisan tenor.
- In October, 48% of registered Republicans said the U.S. is “doing too much” to help Ukraine, up from just 6% in March, according to surveys by The Wall Street Journal.
- 81% of Democrats supported sending additional aid to Ukraine, versus 35% of Republicans.
WHAT’S NEXT
Depending on how long it lasts, Ukraine’s war effort and reconstruction could cost $500 billion to $1 trillion, according to a recent estimate by Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
- Cordesman cited Nov. 16 remarks by General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff: “… I don’t think this will be over anytime soon. … Our requirement is to make sure that we continue to provide Ukraine with the means to do what’s necessary to prosecute their campaign.”