US President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion for military, economic, and humanitarian assistance – but insisted that the US was not attacking Russia. US lawmakers should approve the deal, which Biden said would aid Ukraine in defending itself. Military aid in excess of $20 billion, economic aid to the tune of $8.5 billion and humanitarian aid to the tune of $3 billion are all included in the proposal.
“Caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen,” Biden explained to the American population, explaining why this money is necessary at a time when many have to cope with rising living costs and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For every Russian tank deployed in Ukraine, the US has provided 10 anti-tank weapons. Despite his strong rhetoric, he maintained that the US was not attacking Russia.
If Congress authorizes the $33 billion package, it will be twice as much as the US has already spent on providing military equipment and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. A new Ukraine package comes at a time when the US economy is struggling. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US economy shrank 1.4% in the first quarter of 2022.
Meanwhile, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned that Western support for Ukraine threatened the continent’s security. This week has seen tensions rise on a number of fronts, with Russia continuing its offensive in eastern Ukraine, the US calling for a meeting of more than 40 countries to discuss increasing weapons aid to Kiev, and Moscow suspending gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria.