Status: 04/21/2022 5:11 p.m
The US government plans to send another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine. President Biden also pledged $500 million in economic aid. The US is also blocking its ports for Russian ships.
The US plans to provide Ukraine with an additional $800 million in military aid to help the country fight the Russian invasion. This was announced by US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington.
The new military aid package includes much-needed heavy artillery, 144,000 rounds of ammunition and drones for Ukrainian forces fighting for the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. The package builds on the roughly $2.6 billion in military aid Biden previously approved for Ukraine. The US President pledged $800 million worth of arms to Ukraine last week.
Biden went on to say that the $13.6 billion Congress approved for military and humanitarian assistance last month is “nearly exhausted.” He warned that Congress would have to approve additional aid.
$500 million in economic aid
In addition, Biden pledged another $500 million in economic aid. The money is intended to help the Ukrainian government, among other things, to pay salaries and pensions. The money is also earmarked for programs designed to prevent “a deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” according to the US Treasury Department. According to the US President, the money should also be used to support cities that were devastated by the Russian attack.
US economic support for Ukraine has totaled $1 billion over the past two months, Biden said.
Biden stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine”. This shows the unity and determination of the West. The investigation of war crimes is an important task. He pays respect to everyone who is currently working in Ukraine. Referring to Russian reports of a capture of the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, Biden said it was “questionable whether he (Putin) controls Mariupol.”
US blocks ports for Russian ships
Biden further announced that the US would close its ports to Russian ships. This means that no ship flying the Russian flag or directed by Russian interests can dock in the United States. According to Biden, this is another step that the USA has taken together with its international partners.
Russia should be denied the “advantages of the international economic system” because of the aggressive war against Ukraine. The European Union had also decided to ban ships flying the Russian flag from entering EU ports.
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US procedure for admitting Ukrainian refugees
From the beginning of next week, the US will start the process of taking in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Refugees from Ukraine need a sponsor in the United States who can support them and who has to undergo a background check, senior government officials in Washington said.
The program is therefore primarily aimed at Ukrainians with connections to the USA. Anyone wanting to come to the United States must be vaccinated against a number of diseases, among other things. In addition, “biographical and biometric” checks would be carried out. Government officials stressed that each procedure should be completed as soon as possible. The program is also a clear signal to European allies, which have taken in a historically high number of refugees from Ukraine.