WASHINGTON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – President Biden has asked $33 billion (£27 billion) in humanitarian, economic and military aid for Ukraine, despite insisting that the US is not “attacking Russia.”
Mr. Biden stated that approval of the deal by US lawmakers was vital, as it would bolster Ukraine’s defence.
More than $20 billion in military aid, $8.5 billion in economic aid, and $3 billion in humanitarian help are included in the proposal.
On Thursday, Mr. Biden added, “It’s not cheap.”
However, if they allow aggressiveness to prevail, it would be more costly.
Despite the fact that the US has previously pledged assistance to Ukraine, the proposals represent a major increase in aid.
President Biden stated that the United States has provided ten anti-tank weaponry for every tank Russia has deployed to Ukraine.
Despite his strong words, he stated that the United States was not attacking Russia. He insisted they were assisting Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression.
A spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that Western military support for Ukraine threatens “the continent’s security.”
President Biden is urging that Congress authorise a massive quantity of money for Ukraine, more than twice what the US has already spent on military and humanitarian help.
The US president wants to show that he is unfazed by vague threats of nuclear retaliation and a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin that retaliatory strikes could be launched against countries that interfere in Ukraine.
He dismissed those remarks, saying they reflect Russia’s desperation at their abject failure to accomplish what they set out to do.
He explained to Americans why this money was required – at a time when many are struggling with growing living costs – by saying that it was not cheap, but that doing nothing was even more expensive.
A new idea to allow US authorities to not only freeze but also liquidate the Russian oligarchs’ assets is risky, and it has alarmed civil liberties groups in the United States. In Congress, though, it is expected to receive bipartisan backing.
It will not, however, begin to pay the cost of the additional funds the White House wants to devote to Ukraine’s military efforts.
Mr. Biden also addressed concerns about a nuclear war in his remarks on Thursday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov cautioned on Wednesday that the potential of nuclear war over Ukraine is severe and cannot be ignored.
Mr. Biden stated, no one should be making idle statements about the deployment of nuclear weapons.
Mr. Biden also took aim at what he called Russian “gas blackmail” that he claimed was threatening European energy supply. Gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria have been cut off by Russia this week.
They would not allow Russia to blackmail or bully its way out of the sanctions, he stated. They would not be able to use its oil and gas to avoid facing the repercussions of their actions.
The new Ukraine package’s release comes at a challenging time for the US economy.
Mr Biden’s first financing proposal, which the Congress approved last month after the conflict began, was less than $14 billion.
President Biden approved a second $800 million (£642 million) military aid package in as many weeks, as well as $500 million (£401 million) in direct economic aid last week.
Since the conflict began in late February, the United States has moved rapidly to assist Ukraine.
