The Trump administration is moving to meet the Ukraine military aid deadline 2026, with plans to formally commit nearly all of the $400 million in military assistance approved by Congress for Kyiv. According to three people familiar with the plan, the administration intends to ensure the funding does not expire when the US fiscal year ends on September 30.
The development comes as questions have continued in Washington over the pace of US military aid to Ukraine. The Times of Russia reports that $307 million from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI, had already been obligated as of early this week.
Officials familiar with the plan said the administration expects to formally commit the remaining $93 million before the September 30 deadline.
Ukraine Military Aid Deadline Nears as $93 Million Remains
The Ukraine military aid deadline is linked to funding approved by Congress late last year. While the remaining $93 million does not necessarily have to be spent before the end of the fiscal year, it must be formally placed under contract by September 30 or the funding will expire.
The Pentagon, which is responsible for overseeing the USAI program, declined to comment on the matter.
The funding has become a point of disagreement between the administration and lawmakers. Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the Pentagon for delaying the use of assistance that Congress approved for Ukraine in December.
The $400 million Ukraine aid package is part of Washington’s broader Ukraine security assistance following Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.
First Ukraine Military Assistance Deliveries Have Started
The first shipments connected to the funding began arriving this month, according to sources familiar with the plan. The initial deliveries include offensive weapons and equipment, as well as spare parts for armored vehicles.
The remainder of the equipment is expected to be delivered by October 2029, according to the sources. That date extends beyond the end of US President Donald Trump’s current White House term, which is scheduled to conclude in January of that year.
The planned deliveries form part of ongoing US weapons deliveries to Ukraine, although the timeline has generated concerns among members of Congress.
The Pentagon has previously delayed shipments of weapons to Ukraine because of concerns that US weapons inventories were becoming too limited. Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the delivery schedule when the issue was discussed earlier this year.
Patriot Missiles Not Included in the Current Package
The current package of Ukraine military assistance does not include Patriot interceptor missiles, according to one of the sources.
The issue is significant for Kyiv as Russia continues attacks involving drones and ballistic missiles against Ukrainian cities. Ukraine has repeatedly requested additional Patriot systems and interceptors.
The United States and Ukraine are facing broader supply pressures involving Patriot systems. The article reports that the US war in Iran and the Ukraine-Russia war have reduced global supplies of Patriot systems, while Kyiv continues to seek additional interceptors.
Reuters reported in July that the administration had informed Congress that some of the military equipment could take years to reach Ukrainian forces.
Trump Takes a More Positive Position Toward Ukraine
The movement on the funding comes alongside a change in the Trump administration’s recent approach toward Kyiv.
Trump has recently adopted a more positive tone toward Ukraine. He approved a proposal allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles and also signed a Russia sanctions bill.
Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at United Nations headquarters in New York this week. Following the meeting, Zelenskiy said the two sides discussed efforts to bring the war with Russia to an end.
Their discussions included a potential bilateral ceasefire covering energy-related targets.
The developments come as the administration continues to manage its broader Trump administration Ukraine policy, including military assistance and diplomatic efforts related to the conflict.
Congress Continues to Watch US Military Aid to Ukraine
The handling of the US military aid to Ukraine has remained a subject of congressional attention.
Lawmakers from both parties supported the $400 million funding package in December, but concerns have since been raised about how quickly the Pentagon has been using the money and delivering the associated equipment.
The Pentagon’s previous decisions to hold back some weapons shipments have also been examined during congressional hearings. Lawmakers have described the delivery schedule as unusually slow given the continuing conflict.
The remaining $93 million therefore represents an important deadline for the administration. While the equipment does not need to be delivered by September 30, the funding must be contractually committed before the deadline to prevent it from expiring.
Ukraine Remains a Major Recipient of US Foreign Aid
Ukraine has been by far the largest recipient of US foreign aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
However, the future of Washington’s commitment to Kyiv has faced greater uncertainty since Trump returned to the White House and Republicans gained control of both chambers of Congress in January 2025.
The latest effort to commit the remaining funding comes against that broader backdrop. The administration now plans to ensure that the full $400 million authorized under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is formally committed before the fiscal-year deadline.
For Ukraine military aid, the immediate focus is therefore on September 30, when the remaining $93 million must be placed under contract to avoid expiration.
The Times of Russia will continue to track developments involving Ukraine military assistance, US policy toward Kyiv and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
