Portman Praises Inclusion of Funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative in FY 2023 NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes $800 million in funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which he wrote into law in 2015.  This is an increase from the $300 million included in last year’s NDAA and the President’s budget request, and it is intended to supplement anticipated USAI funding provided to Ukraine in a future spending package. These funds will be used to help train, equip, and provide support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their effort to fight back against Russia’s brutal, illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine. Portman recently returned from his bipartisan trip to Ukraine – his 10^th since 2014 – where he saw the damage Russian bombardments had done to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. He has also spoken on the Senate floor for 26 consecutive weeks that the Senate has been in session about how U.S. military aid has enabled Ukraine’s victories on the battlefield.

“At a time when it has never been more critical to support our ally Ukraine, this military aid underscores our commitment to helping Ukraine defeat Russia’s invasion and secure its independence. The Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative has helped to strengthen Ukraine’s military for many years, and since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February, it has continued to provide critical support for Ukraine in defending its sovereign territory – on the land, at sea, and in the air,” said Senator Portman. “I’m proud to have led the effort in Congress to secure this crucial funding and will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the United States stands with Ukraine in their fight to secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future.”

As Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Senator Portman has led efforts in Congress to provide Ukraine with lethal aid, economic assistance, and humanitarian aid during Russia’s ongoing invasion. This $800 million included in the FY 2023 NDAA comes in addition to the approximately $19 billion the United States has given to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked and brutal invasion on February 24. Senator Portman has successfully championed language in the annual NDAA for the past six years that expanded U.S. military aid to Ukraine via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, while strongly encouraging the Ukrainian government to continue its efforts in eliminating corruption and pursuing much needed security sector reforms.