The United States of America explained the reasons for the unsuccessful implementation of the Lend-Lease Law for Ukraine, which was signed by President Joe Biden on May 9, 2022.
The president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Defense Industrial Coalition (AZDIC), Lindy Smith, who is also a member of the supervisory board of Ukroboronprom, disclosed the details of American aid to Ukraine, in particular, in the context of the specified law.
She noted that the lend-lease program cannot be considered a failed experiment or unsuitable for use in Ukraine. However, she pointed out that the United States government emphasized that Ukraine should not bear the financial costs for the received weapons.
Consequently, the administration explained that it used specific programs, such as the Security Assistance Initiative, the Foreign Military Financing Program, and the Presidential Arms Reduction Mandate, to provide aid to Ukraine. This was announced by Lindy Smith, the president and chief executive officer of the Arizona Defense Industrial Coalition (AZDIC), who is also a member of the supervisory board of Ukroboronprom.
She pointed out that these programs make it possible to provide financing to Ukraine without the need for reimbursement. According to Smith, the Biden administration directed efforts to avoid the formation of debt that would have to be paid back to the United States.
Despite this, she admitted that the Lend-Lease decision is a "powerful and useful act" for Ukraine. Smith expressed the opinion that it should be revived as an opportunity for both Ukraine and the United States. She emphasized the relevance of this issue in the context of difficulties with budget planning, noting that solving this issue can contribute to the understanding of financing opportunities for Ukraine and make it easier for it to obtain the necessary resources. Also, she called for a review and return of the lend-lease option in the context of difficult budgetary challenges that have become difficult for Ukraine.
