On Dec. 15, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2023. The document outlined the annual budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense for the upcoming calendar year. It also determined which government agencies are responsible for these defense initiatives, their funding levels, and the new policies that will be implemented.
The 2023 NDAA called for a 10% increase in funding for defense-related matters. The document also outlined how the United States will address various national security challenges for the upcoming year, and how it will allocate assistance to its allies and partners.
One of these countries is Ukraine.
The announcement of the new defense bill coincidentally coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unexpected visit to Washington. During his trip, Zelenskyy met with Biden at the White House before addressing Congress. Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its continued support, and he reminded his audience of the atrocities being committed by Russia.
During Zelenskyy’s visit, Biden announced that Ukraine would receive the Patriot missile defense system. The air defense system will allow the Ukrainians to protect their cities from future Russian missile and drone strikes. This is just one example of how the United States will bolster Ukraine’s defenses in 2023. What do the other examples entail?
In the 4,408-page NDAA, Ukraine is mentioned 159 times. First, the NDAA states that aid to Ukraine will include the replenishment of military equipment and hardware. To ensure the Eastern European state has what it needs, the Secretary of Defense will provide quarterly updates to Congress to discuss the “replenishment and revitalization of weapons provided to Ukraine.” This will allow Congress to keep track of the defense packages being sent to Ukraine.
Second, the defense bill calls for the “establishment of [a] partnership program between [the] United States and Ukraine for military trauma care and research.” According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Ukraine has one of the world’s highest literacy rates and one of the most educated populations. The establishment of this trauma care and research program could lead to groundbreaking innovation and studies in this field. It can examine how servicemembers are treated on and off the battlefield and could help improve Ukraine’s medical capabilities. The program is set to begin in February.
Third, the 2023 NDAA extends the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, a program launched in 2015. USAI seeks to help Ukraine against Russian aggression by providing funds for “additional training, equipment, and advisory efforts.” Extensions and modifications to USAI will see Ukraine receive $800 million. (This is in addition to the recently passed omnibus bill that stated the U.S. would provide an additional $45 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2023.)
The Department of Defense will be required to outline how it plans to provide security assistance to Ukraine. The Inspector General will provide its oversight, and the executive branch has established the Ukraine Oversight Working Group.
Fourth, the defense bill includes a section on Ukraine debt relief. In the document, Congress has stated that the Secretary of the Treasury will instruct Executive Directors “at each international financial institution … to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to advocate that the respective institution immediately provide appropriate debt relief to Ukraine.” What this would entail, however, is unclear. The document does not specify how debt relief will be implemented, nor does it provide a timeline for this process.
Finally, the 2023 NDAA includes additional sanctions on Russia. For example, the document states that the U.S. will limit its military cooperation with the Russian Federation through 2027. The U.S. will seek to exclude Russian government officials from participating in international organizations and forums such as the G20 Summit and the Financial Stability Board. Finally, Congress has tasked various federal offices and defense agencies to assess the effects of current U.S. sanctions on Russia. These findings will allow the U.S. government to determine how it will implement future sanctions on the Russian Federation as the war continues.
Overall, the provisions outlined in the 2023 NDAA suggest that the United States is fully committed to Ukraine. The aid and programs listed in the defense bill show that the United States will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival and success of this European partner, and that the U.S. shows no signs of easing-up on this commitment.
Ukraine has a friend in America.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eastern Europe and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. He can be found on Twitter @MTemnycky The views expressed are the author's own.