FY 2025 Budget: Supporting Ukraine and Ensuring Russia’s Strategic Failure

As President Biden said about Russia’s brutal war of aggression, “The stakes in this fight extend far beyond Ukraine.  If we don’t stop Putin’s appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won’t limit himself just to Ukraine and the costs for America and our allies and partners is going to rise.”  The President’s FY 2025 Budget Request includes $1.5 billion for countering the Kremlin’s aggression.  The $482 million requested for Ukraine, along with the National Security Supplemental Request, will assist with Ukraine’s economic recovery, bolster Ukraine’s resilience and ability to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, and ensure progress toward reforms needed for Ukraine’s EU accession.

With the support of its partners, Ukraine can and will defend its sovereignty and democracy.  We know from history that dictators are not stopped, they keep going, and the cost for America rises.  it will signal to autocrats and malign actors around the world that they can use force to overturn the global order, which threatens the political, security, and economic interests of the United States and the world for decades to come.

To date, more than 50 countries worldwide have answered the U.S. call to provide funds to support Ukraine, and collectively they have now delivered more than double the amount of economic and humanitarian support that we have provided.  United, continued support will provide Ukraine what it needs to win.  The Request assumes continuation of this strong backing.

Breakdown of FY 2025 Request for Ukraine ($482 million):

• $250.0 million for economic and development assistance to support reforms in Ukraine, civil society, rule of law, and election integrity.  This also includes programming to bolster economic growth, strengthen energy security, support EU accession, and fortify the resilience of the Ukrainian people by restoring critical public services across the country, particularly in liberated communities.
• $95 million in security-sector assistance for FMF for immediate and medium-term capabilities to help Ukraine win the war against Russian aggression.
• $71 million for health programs.

• $66 million for other security assistance activities such as supporting civilian security, rule of law, and for demining and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The FY 2025 Request does not include resources for certain requirements that were part of the October 2023 National Security Supplemental Request to address critical and pressing needs, which cannot wait until FY 2025, and which are appropriately funded through a supplemental request.

Beyond Ukraine

Another $999 million across Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia will be used to counter malign Kremlin and PRC influence in the regions by building the resilience of our allies and partners, advancing democratic reforms, countering Russian disinformation, improving citizen’s access to factual and unbiased media, bolstering energy and cyber security, and stabilizing economies impacted by the conflict.

The FY 2025 Request reflects the United States’ sustained support for volatile environments countries like Moldova and Georgia, and will advance efforts for a democratic future in Belarus; build Armenia’s economic and democratic resilience and ties to the West; and support the transition of the countries of the Western Balkans to EU membership. U.S. assistance will also support regional programs that increase transparency of foreign investments; foster professional investigative journalism, particularly through regional journalist networks; and promote people-to-people ties and economic integration to advance regional stability.

The requested $204.2 million for Foreign Military Financing includes $150 million for the European and Eurasian Regional operating unit, $9.75 million for each of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), and $25.0 million for Georgia.  These programs will continue to build capacity of Allies and partners to defend themselves against Putin’s war of aggression in the region and help Allies backfill material and capabilities donated to Ukraine.