Source:   GT    Published: 2023-02-23

The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China released the report "Aid Mixed with Water: Inside Story and Analysis of Western Military Aid to Ukraine" at an academic forum held in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Zhang Changyue/GT

Western politicians turn grinding Ukraine War into a political show. Cartoon: Carlos Latuff

One day ahead of the one year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict's outbreak, a Chinese think tank published a report on Thursday, claiming that US aid to Ukraine is seriously "watered-down" as Kiev and Ukrainian people only received very little from the huge amount of the US has promised, while the most of the assistance are actually serving the "money laundering plan" for the US military industrial complex.

The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China released the report "Aid Mixed with Water: Inside Story and Analysis of Western Military Aid to Ukraine" at an academic forum held in Beijing on Thursday. The report showed that, based on the data and documents published by Western governments and media since the very beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a large amount of US aid funds has not flown to Kiev.

Over the past year, the US has continued to provide and push its allies to provide military assistance to Ukraine, shaping an image of "the champion of justice and a saver of Ukraine," said the report. However, the fact is that Washington is using "supporting Ukraine" as a pretext to make huge amount of taxpayers' money to transfer into the pocket of the US military industrial giants like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies, while tens of thousands of Ukrainian people are suffering from deadly military combat.

As of January 15, 2023, the total amount of US pledged aid to Ukraine reached $76.8 billion. Among the pledged assistance, military aid accounted for the largest proportion, at 46.5 billion US dollars, accounting for 61 percent. Part of the US military aid is financial loans for the purchase of US military products. This loan will form long-term liabilities for countries such as Ukraine, said the report.

However, humanitarian aid only accounted for the smallest proportion, at $3.9 billion, accounting for only 5 percent of the total amount. Financial aid was $26.4 billion, accounting for 34 percent. The main purpose of US financial assistance is to maintain the continuity of the Ukrainian government's wartime operations.

According to the analysis of the report, its ultimate purpose is to "prolong the Ukrainian crisis."

Although the US has spent huge amount of money on military aid, Kiev's strength and capability for war have not been significantly improved. Only about 17 percent of the 2022 Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act involving $40 billion is directed to Ukraine, and the rest of the money is suspected of being used for other purposes, said the report.

Among the $40 billion, more than $14.2 billion, accounting for about 36 percent, has been used for the US itself, such as updating the US arsenals and ammunition, and issuing additional wages and allowances for US military personnel, said the report.

Another $18.9 billion in aid funds did not specifically target recipient countries, accounting for about 47 percent, so the public is unable to track where the money has gone.

The report summarized that: Firstly, the US aid is extremely inflammatory. Before and during the crisis, the US continued to fuel the Ukrainian crisis with military aid and maintain its intensity. Secondly, the US aid is extremely deceptive. The actual US aid to Ukraine has shrunk layer by layer. The delivery of aid is mainly "dragging". The delivery of the aid cannot be guaranteed. Thirdly, the US aid is extremely self-serving.

A large proportion of the funds within the $40 billion aid bill to Ukraine will flow to the US itself, which will bring at least $17.3 billion in additional revenue to US military contractors. Fourthly, the US aid is extremely prone to causing further conflict, leading to more serious internal conflicts in Europe, and European countries will have to strengthen its dependence on the US in various fields such as energy, military, and economy.

Wang Wen, the executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said at the forum that China stands on the side of peace, and it's totally rightful and absolutely necessary for a Chinese think tank to point out the fact and the dirty inside story of so-called US or Western aid to Ukraine, to help more people to understand why the conflict won't come to an end and who's been benefitting from the deadly crisis.