From the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Biden White House has repeatedly announced large and seemingly random amounts of money that it intends to send to fuel the war in Ukraine. The latest such dispatch, pursuant to an initial $3.5 billion fund authorized by Congress early on, was announced on Friday; “Biden says U.S. will send $1.3 billion in additional military and economic support to Ukraine,” read the CNBC headline. This was preceded by a series of new lavish spending packages for the war, unveiled every two to three weeks, starting on the third day of the war:

•Feb. 26: “Biden approves $350 million in military aid for Ukraine”: Reuters;

•Mar. 16: “Biden announces $800 million in military aid for Ukraine”: The New York Times;

•Mar. 30: “Ukraine to receive additional $500 million in aid from U.S., Biden announces”: NBC News;

•Apr. 12: “U.S. to announce $750 million more in weapons for Ukraine, officials say”: Reuters;

•May 6: “Biden announces new $150 million weapons package for Ukraine”: Reuters.