President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $33 billion to assist Ukraine, he announced on Thursday.
Biden’s proposed plan would last through September and task Congress with allocating $20.4 billion for security and military aid, $8.5 billion in economic aid, and $3 billion in humanitarian aid, per NBC News.
“That’s why today, in order to sustain Ukraine as it continues to fight, I’m sending Congress a supplemental budget request,” Biden said. “It’s going to keep weapons and ammunitions flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters and continue delivering economic and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people.”
The administration aims to provide Ukrainian soldiers with new artillery, armored vehicles, accelerated cyber capabilities, and advanced air defense systems, as well as help clear landmines. The economic effort would be directed toward helping Ukrainian people access proper food, energy, and health care services. The humanitarian aid would look to provide wheat and other commodities to people outside Ukraine who’ve been impacted any rising food costs as a result.
Biden also shared that direct economic aid would “allow pensions and social support to be paid to the Ukrainian people, so that they have something in their pocket.”
The president is also proposing that Congress makes it easier for the Treasury and State Departments to follow through on sanctions on Russian oligarchs. The ultimate goal of Thursday’s proposal is to weaken Russia’s economy and to offer enough assistance to Ukraine to help the country boot Russia entirely after three months of fighting.
“Despite the disturbing rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin, the facts are plain for all to see: We are not attacking Russia,” Biden wrote on Twitter after his speech. “We are helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. And just as Putin chose to launch this brutal invasion, he could make the choice to end it.”
