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"At the moment, we are prioritizing security assistance for Ukraine, for which they will not have to pay back later," a White House official said.

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According to him, the Lend-Lease program provides that the equipment received is paid for, while other programs under which the United States provides assistance to Ukraine, such as the USAI (Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative) and the Presidential Drawdown Authority program, do not stipulate a refund.

The latest supplies of American weapons to Ukraine are carried out under these programs. The Biden administration uses funds provided by Congress for this purpose. This includes the $40 billion package, more than half of which is earmarked for military aid and related spending. These funds must be expended by the end of the US fiscal year, which falls on the end of September.

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National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby added that the administration is still reviewing the authority provided by the lend-lease program.

"We are grateful to Congress for this legislation. It was passed on a bipartisan basis, and it clearly shows how much members of Congress value the support given to Ukraine and want to make sure we can continue to do so," Kirby said.

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According to him, on July 8, US President Joe Biden signed the allocation of another $400 million in military aid to Ukraine under the presidential authority program.

"We already have a lot of authority, and we are using it," the government official added.

The Lend-Lease Act, among other things, expands the powers of the US president in agreements to supply military aid to Ukraine. In fact, it allows lending or leasing military equipment under simplified export control procedures.

It allows the White House to provide Ukraine with weapons, equipment, ammunition, and dual-use products under an accelerated procedure, that is, without waiting for a special allocation of funds for this by the US Congress.