More than half of a £900m military fund for Ukraine run by the British Ministry of Defense has not been used because of bureaucratic delays in handing out contracts, — The Guardian.

The UK-led International Fund for Ukraine counts nine countries among its donors. Critics claim its provision of weapons to the frontline has been slow. Of the £900m donated by governments over the last two years, of which £500m came from the UK, just £404m has been committed or spent.

Some of the equipment covered in the contracts signed will not reach Ukraine until spring next year, ministers have admitted. The delays are said by MoD officials to have been caused by a need to assess each of the huge number of defense companies that have tendered for contracts.

“The UK-led International Fund for Ukraine is the largest fund of its kind and is delivering weapons on a regular basis to meet Ukraine’s most pressing needs – including air defense capabilities, drones, and mine clearance equipment – with more than £900m pledged so far by nine countries. Thousands of responses have been received from industry to International Fund for Ukraine requirements, each of which have had to be individually reviewed. We make no excuses for having made sure this was done properly and in a way that most effectively helps Ukraine,” said a spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defense.