Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is accusing the Pentagon of delaying $400 million in Ukraine military aid that Congress authorized, putting new pressure on Defense Department policy chief Elbridge Colby as Kyiv continues to fight Russia’s invasion.
McConnell Targets Pentagon Over Ukraine Funds
McConnell, who now chairs the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, said in a Washington Post op-ed Tuesday that Republican majorities on both armed services committees authorized $400 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative for each of the next two years, while appropriators “fully funded” the fiscal 2026 portion with broad support.
But McConnell said the money has stalled. The aid passed by Congress is “collecting dust at the Pentagon,” he wrote, adding that Senate appropriators seeking answers from the policy office led by Colby have been “stonewalled.”
The $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026 provided $400 million for Ukraine in 2026 and another $400 million in 2027 through the security assistance initiative. The money was intended to fund high-priority weapons produced by American companies for Ukraine’s military.
Colby Faces Scrutiny Over Aid Delays
McConnell said Colby had drawn concern before, citing reports that he was behind a previous suspension of arms shipments to Kyiv, a move one source said caught President Donald Trump “flat-footed.” AP reported last year that the Pentagon paused some weapons shipments to Ukraine while reviewing pressure on U.S. stockpiles.
The Republican also said Colby deemed Ukraine and Baltic security assistance “wasteful” and removed those programs from the fiscal 2026 budget request. Senate appropriators later restored funding for Ukraine, arguing it supported U.S. security and domestic arms production. Reuters reported last August that the Senate panel approved about $1 billion in funding for Ukraine despite the Trump administration’s request to eliminate it.
China Watches As Ukraine War Evolves
McConnell, who called President Joe Biden’s initial response to Russia’s invasion “anemic,” said Congress still helped expand production capacity for critical munitions and components.
He also criticized Pentagon limits on U.S. advisers traveling to Ukraine, saying they prevent American officers from learning counter-drone and electronic warfare lessons. McConnell warned that Iran, North Korea and China are watching Ukraine’s battlefield closely, while “the Pentagon still won’t tell us why it hasn’t obligated and executed modest Ukraine investments.”
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