U.S. Army says funding is essential as Ukraine rapidly ‘depletes funding’ for operations in Europe

Northeastern Poland — While the U.S. Congress is fighting over $60 billion; Aid package for Ukrainethe U.S. military in Europe told CBS News it could go bankrupt if the funding isn’t approved by American lawmakers soon.

“We’re running out of money,” Col. Martin O’Donnell, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Europe and the United Forces in Africa, told CBS News in Poland, where U.S. forces are participating in large-scale exercises. “We have plenty of funding now, but if nothing changes we expect to run out of funding before the summer.”

Mr. O’Donnell’s candid assessment marked the first time a senior military official appeared on camera to warn about the urgency of Ukraine’s funding policy. Ukraine’s war effortbut to the U.S. military’s broader operations across two vast regions.

The Army receives hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer dollars that the United States has contributed to the war effort in Ukraine, including training like the one currently taking place in Poland. But O’Donnell said if the aid package is not approved, funding for U.S. troops in Europe and Africa will be depleted by May or June.

In addition to training and equipping U.S. forces throughout the region, the U.S. Army oversees the training of Ukrainian forces and the transportation of equipment to Ukraine through Europe. He said all this could come to a halt if additional funding to Ukraine is not approved.

“There’s a big risk at this point if we don’t get the funding,” O’Donnell said.

Asked what would happen if the organization ran out of money, he said: “I don’t really want to think about that, especially in terms of working on two continents.” [Europe and Africa], and also in terms of aid to Ukraine. It’s at risk. ”

“We are making adjustments internally, but we are not compromising our readiness and the support we have been providing to Ukraine. We are not there yet,” the European Africa Command said in a statement. . Mr O’Donnell said. “But, as I said, that point is rapidly approaching, and potentially difficult decisions will have to be made.”

He stressed that he was only talking about the budget and its impact on the Army’s operations in Europe and Africa. Yes, there is. So, for sure.” Money can be reallocated, but again, there is a limit to how much money there is. ”

The Army’s warning about tight funding comes amid growing concerns about Russia’s military expansion intentions as President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its third year.

“I cannot overstate how important this assistance is to Ukraine. They need it now,” U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith told CBS News on Thursday. “This is very important because, as we have seen many times in our history, if you don’t stop dictators, they end up continuing to be dictators.Ukrainians They are fighting to protect their territory. They are also fighting to protect our values.” “Dear, we are now fighting to stop Russia in Ukraine and to We need to get people out of Ukraine and make sure they don’t think twice about going further west and into NATO territory.”

CBS News had exclusive access to live-fire exercises taking place this week in northern Poland, along one of the most sensitive borders separating democratic Europe from Russian territory.

Soldiers with the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were developing a scenario in which an unknown enemy launched an attack on NATO’s eastern flank. The soldiers’ strategy was to retake the ground and force the nameless enemy to retreat.

CBS News saw massive explosions shake the ground as U.S. Bradley fighting vehicles charged through a muddy field, infantry troops spilled out and demining weapons moved in.

None of the soldiers or commanders involved in the exercise named the hypothetical “local enemy” they would face during the exercise, but the locations chosen spoke volumes.

The exercise took place near the Suławki Gorge, a hilly region in northeastern Poland that military planners consider NATO’s Achilles heel.

To the west of the Gap lies the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. To the east is Belarus, a close ally of Russia, where Russia sends troops; Rumor has it that nuclear weapons. Only about 40 miles of NATO territory, or the Suwalki Gap, separates the Russian foothold.

If the Kremlin were to launch an invasion of Poland and exploit the gap, it would effectively cut off the Baltic states from the rest of its NATO allies.

Soldiers participating in U.S. Army training this week are preparing for any eventuality, Lt. Col. Timothy Decker, commander of the 3rd Infantry Battalion, told CBS News.

“We continue to improve our tactical proficiency and train to remain a lethal force that deters aggression.”

But the Army’s ability to continue to provide its lethality and deterrence against America’s adversaries is currently under threat, with U.S. lawmakers overcoming disagreements to keep funding flowing quickly. He said he hopes to do so.