The US government shutdown will delay the replacement of weapons provided to Ukraine

The Pentagon expects that the government shutdown will affect the pace of arms supplies to Ukraine and the financing of defence contracts.

Bloomberg reports.

The Pentagon is to send Ukraine $5 billion more in weapons and equipment. But it has only $1.6 billion left for contracts with manufacturers for rearmament. 

Congress must pass new funding before the end of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30. If this does not happen, the government will shut down. At the same time, contracts with arms manufacturers will be on the verge of termination.

President Biden's administration has requested $24 billion in aid to Ukraine, including $13 billion for defence. Republicans in the House of Representatives are blocking a vote to fund the government and are demanding significant spending cuts, including in aid to Ukraine.

"A shutdown could halt our munitions production lines, as it did in the 2013 shutdown. This would be very short-sighted at a time when we are focused on ramping up munitions production for Ukraine," said Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed.

It will be recalled that the US Senate has approved a draft short-term budget resolution to help avoid a government shutdown. It includes funds to help Ukraine.