TL;DR:

President Zelensky’s claim about receiving only $75 billion of the $175 billion U.S. aid raised suspicions, but the funds are accounted for, supporting military, humanitarian, and strategic operations related to the war. Most spending reinforces U.S. military and international efforts rather than direct transfers to Ukraine.

Synopsis:

On February 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignited a controversy by stating that Ukraine had only received around $75 billion from the $175 billion that the United States purportedly spent in aid, questioning the whereabouts of the remaining $100 billion. His remarks led to widespread speculation and accusations of corruption and financial mismanagement. However, the so-called “missing” funds were not lost or stolen. Instead, a significant portion of the aid was allocated to activities stemming from the war, such as training Ukrainian forces, supporting humanitarian efforts, deploying additional U.S. forces in Europe, and providing NATO and Ukraine with intelligence. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 90% of U.S. military aid is spent domestically, and only 25% of the total aid goes directly to Ukraine, while the rest supports global and U.S.-based initiatives. Despite the uproar caused by Zelensky’s comments, U.S. military officials, including General Keith Kellogg, have affirmed the integrity of the aid allocation process. Nonetheless, the confusion has complicated further Congressional approval for aid, particularly among Republicans, due to the perceived taint of corruption. Aid appropriations since 2022 amount to $175.2 billion, categorically distributed across military equipment replacement, enhancements to the U.S. military industrial base, security assistance initiatives, humanitarian and economic aid, and other related expenditures. These funds are fully accounted for in the broader context of strategic support activities rather than direct cash transfers to the Ukrainian government.