President Joe Biden publicly requested $33 billion in supplementary aid for Ukraine over the next five months on Thursday, in order to help resist Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in the long run.
“This war does not come cheap. However, giving in to hostility will be more costly if we allow it to happen “Biden stated the following. “This cash must be granted, and it must be approved as soon as feasible. “We’re not going to invade Russia. We are assisting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression “Added he. “And, just as Putin chose to initiate this barbaric assault, he might also choose to put an end to it. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: Russia is the aggressor.
The aggressor is Russia, and the international community must and will hold Russia accountable.”
The supplemental budget request, according to Biden, will allow weapons and ammunition to flow “uninterrupted to the brave Ukrainian fighters” and the US to continue delivering economic and humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, who he claims are paying the true cost of the conflict with their lives.
The White House stated that more than $20 billion of the $33 billion would be spent on military and other security measures. Biden is also seeking an additional $8.5 billion in economic aid to help the Ukrainian people access basic services, as well as $3 billion in humanitarian aid and food security funds.
Targeted funding to address economic disruptions in the United States as a result of the war in Ukraine, such as increasing wheat and soybean production, “and funding to allow the use of the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production of critical reserves — of critical minerals and materials that have been disrupted by Putin’s war and are necessary to make everything from defense systems to cars,” a senior administration official said.
Biden also announced that he would offer Congress a new comprehensive package to strengthen our efforts to sanction Russian billionaires and “remove their ill-gotten money.”
When asked if extra COVID funds should be attached to Ukraine aid, Biden answered, “I don’t care how they do it — I’m sending them both up.”
Source: ABC
