Unveiling the Channels of Ukraine Aid: A Comprehensive Visual Guide

Ukraine finds itself in a clash with Russia, a nation possessing a formidable military and one of the largest economies worldwide. The resilience displayed by Ukraine owes much to the significant support it has received from primarily Western countries, amounting to approximately $350 billion in aid since January 2022.

However, concerns arise that the provision of aid, particularly from the United States, Kyiv's key supporter in military matters, may start to dwindle.

Congress recently passed a stopgap funding bill after a contentious spending debate that nearly resulted in a government shutdown. However, to appease some hardline Republicans, the bill removed funding for Ukraine. While this move did not satisfy conservatives, who ultimately removed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy due to his perceived failure to make deeper spending cuts, it was a setback for Ukraine. The country relies heavily on Western assistance to change the course of the war. Although hundreds of billions of dollars in aid have already been committed and will be delivered in different stages over several years, the counteroffensive to push Russia out of Ukrainian territory is now at a critical juncture.

To better understand the geopolitical debate behind backing Kyiv, CNN analyzed how international assistance to Ukraine stacks up.

Nearly $100 billion in military aid to Ukraine

Countries worldwide have committed almost $100 billion in direct military assistance to Ukraine, with almost half of the amount coming from the United States, as per data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy until July 2023.

According to data, the US Congress has approved approximately $46.6 billion in direct military aid to Ukraine since NATO countries started organizing support a month prior to the full-scale invasion. This forms part of a $113 billion aid budget allocated for defense and civilian needs, although not all of it is earmarked specifically for Ukraine. Some of the funds are allocated for replenishing the US military's previous contributions of weapons and ammunition, as well as assisting other countries affected by the geopolitical situation.

European Union countries have dedicated a total of $38 billion towards direct military assistance for Kyiv. The main contributors of this support are Germany, Denmark, and Poland. The United Kingdom has also pledged more than $7 billion in direct military aid.

According to the Kiel Institute, some of the most expensive military contributions consist of anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, weapon-locating radar systems, mine-clearing ships, patrol boats, helicopters, and multiple launch rocket systems.

A fair comparison

According to data from the Kiel Institute, the United States has provided the second-largest sum of money to support Ukraine. This includes military, financial, and humanitarian aid, with a total amounting to $85.1 billion. However, it is important to note that this figure does not incorporate the contributions made by individual member states of the European Union, which are accounted for separately.

However, in contrast to Ukraine's smaller allies, the data reveals that Washington's contributions make up only 0.3% of Ukraine's GDP. On the other hand, Norway, as well as the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia, are dedicating a higher percentage of their economic output to the war effort, with contributions exceeding 1% of their GDP.

The aforementioned amount encompasses humanitarian assistance, such as ambulances, power generators, temporary bridges, family tents, and Starlink terminals for satellite communication.

As per the House Appropriations Committee, the most substantial financial contribution from an individual country is a $13.4 billion grant from the United States to the Ukrainian government. This grant aims to assist with diverse budgetary and infrastructure requirements, particularly focusing on Ukraine's energy security.

Refugee costs add up for Ukraines European allies

When factoring in expenses associated with hosting refugees, the contributions made by European allies who have provided sanctuary for the majority of Ukrainian refugees take on even greater significance. According to September data from the United Nations refugee agency, Poland has accommodated the second-highest number of Ukrainian refugees (approximately 960,000) among allied countries, surpassed only by Germany (nearly 1.1 million). Additionally, Russia has also welcomed almost 1.3 million refugees, as indicated by the UN data.

Around 78% of the direct support provided by Poland to Ukraine is allocated towards covering refugee expenses. This amounts to approximately $17 billion out of a total of nearly $22 billion. Last month, Poland engaged in a public dispute with Kyiv regarding the import of Ukrainian grains, but the situation has since calmed despite lingering tensions.

According to data from the Kiel Institute, when incorporating the costs associated with refugees into calculations of GDP, Poland's burden in supporting Ukraine rises from approximately 0.7% to 3.2% of its GDP. This is in contrast to Germany, where the burden is less than 1%.

The US has provided $6.6 billion in indirect aid to Ukrainian refugees as part of its assistance program. Since the start of the war, approximately 267,000 Ukrainians have been admitted into the country through various humanitarian programs.

Poland leads in provision of tanks

According to the Kiel Institute, a total of 33 countries have pledged weapons and military equipment to Ukraine. In addition, several other countries have offered training and other forms of indirect military assistance.

Among these countries, Poland stands out with an unmatched commitment of 324 tanks, as shown by the data. In comparison, the United States has provided less than a quarter of this number.

The US surpasses other countries in providing heavy weapons and accompanying ammunition, as well as supplying light infantry, pledging a minimum of 150 million units of ammunition. Furthermore, Ukraine has received 38 multiple launch rocket systems along with ammunition and 270 Howitzer artillery weapons, both of which Ukrainian officials have affirmed their effectiveness on the front line.

Out of all the countries, the US has committed to providing at least 35 anti-aircraft surface-to-air missile systems, the highest quantity. It is likely that the total amount is even higher than what has been disclosed, as some quantities have not been revealed.

Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report.