Fact Check: "The US administration approved another proposed arms transfer for Ukraine worth $242 million in May 2020."
What We Know
The claim states that the U.S. administration approved a $242 million arms transfer to Ukraine in May 2020. However, according to the U.S. Security Cooperation with Ukraine Fact Sheet, the U.S. has provided military assistance to Ukraine, but the specific amount and timing mentioned in the claim do not align with documented events. The fact sheet details military assistance provided since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, and does not reference any arms transfer of that amount in May 2020.
Additionally, historical context shows that while the U.S. did approve military aid to Ukraine prior to 2022, the specific figure of $242 million in May 2020 is not corroborated by reliable sources. The only mention of significant military aid around that time was a $200 million package approved in December 2021, as noted in the Wikipedia entry on the Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Analysis
The claim lacks credible support and appears to be a misrepresentation or confusion with other military aid packages. The source claiming the approval of the $242 million arms transfer (Kyiv Post) does not provide a detailed breakdown or context for this figure, which raises questions about its reliability. Furthermore, the timing of the claim (May 2020) is critical, as it precedes the major escalation of the conflict in 2022, which dramatically changed the nature and scale of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine.
The U.S. military assistance to Ukraine has evolved significantly, especially after the 2022 invasion, with the total amount reaching approximately $66.9 billion since that time (source-1). The lack of documentation or acknowledgment of a $242 million transfer in May 2020 suggests that the claim is either fabricated or based on a misunderstanding of the timeline and amounts of U.S. military aid.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that the U.S. administration approved a $242 million arms transfer for Ukraine in May 2020 is false. The available evidence does not support this specific transfer, and the context of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine during that time does not align with the claim. The only significant military aid package around that period was a $200 million package approved in December 2021, well after the date mentioned in the claim.
