Help for Ukraine
US President Joe Biden announces new military package “in the next few hours”.
US President Joe Biden wants to provide Ukraine with the promised support as quickly as possible
© Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP / DPA
The aid package for Ukraine was preceded by a long dispute between Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress. In the end there was approval – and now Joe Biden can’t go fast enough.
After Congress approved new aid to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden announced an immediate new military package for the country attacked by Russia. “In the next few hours” we will begin sending anti-aircraft equipment, artillery, missile systems and armored vehicles to Ukraine, Biden said in a speech at the White House on Wednesday. This is not only an investment in the security of Ukraine, but also in the security of Europe. Biden warned that Russia could attack a NATO partner as a next step. “We would have no choice but to come to their aid, just as our NATO allies came to our aid after the September 11 attacks.”
After months of domestic political impasse, the US Congress, with the approval of the Senate, approved billions in aid for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, late on Tuesday evening (local time). The law provides for aid worth around $61 billion (€57 billion) for Kiev. The US government had long and vehemently demanded that Parliament release the funds.
Previous US aid to Ukraine had expired. Since the end of last year, new support from the USA has largely been absent. Kiev is urgently dependent on the help. “America stands with our friends. We stand against dictators,” Biden said. The USA would not give in to Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine wants sid ATACAMS missile systems
The billions in aid passed by Congress and signed by Biden provide, among other things, funds for increasing the number of weapons and ammunition in the US military’s inventory. This money therefore only goes indirectly to Ukraine, since the USA usually equips the country attacked by Russia with equipment from its own stocks – which is often quicker than ordering new ones from industry. Biden has now announced that in the new military package he will once again send Ukraine military equipment from its own stocks.
The rest of the aid package is earmarked for further military support and financial assistance, some in the form of loans. The text also calls for the delivery of long-range ATACMS missile systems. So far, the USA has delivered ATACMS with a range of around 165 kilometers. However, Ukraine wants systems with a range of 300 kilometers. It remained unclear whether the new military package would also include ATACMS.
Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky spoke on the phone on Monday. Zelenskyy said afterwards that details on the delivery of new long-range ATACMS missiles had been “finalized”. However, Zelenskyj did not yet provide any information about which model ATACMS the USA wanted to deliver.
US Congress divided over military aid
The USA is considered Ukraine’s most important supporter. Since the war began in February 2022, Biden’s administration has provided more than $44 billion in military aid to Kyiv. There are also billions more in non-military financial aid.
The vote in the House of Representatives was preceded by a months-long blockade. A power struggle raged in the Republican-dominated chamber over the Ukraine aid. Chairman Mike Johnson was under great pressure from the right-wing fringe of his party and prevented the vote for a long time. The hardliners threatened him with a vote of no confidence. They vehemently reject further US aid to Ukraine, arguing that taxpayers’ money should be spent first and foremost on protecting their own border and not on protecting other countries.
This post has been updated.