The new US aid bill for Ukraine includes $60 billion and ATACMS missiles.
The approval of US military aid to Ukraine, despite a seven-month delay, is finally reaching the finish line. The amount of the package for Ukraine remained the same as what was planned to be approved last year – more than $60 billion. But the main, revolutionary change is that Congress sets the goal of victory for Ukraine.
Long range rockets
Congress stated in the bill that the purpose of American military support is to enable Ukraine to “defend and achieve victory against the Russian Federation.” To achieve this, in particular, Congress obliged the President to transfer long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine “as soon as possible.” It should be noted that Biden retains the right to refuse to comply with the requirement by giving Congress a security justification, so it is not yet possible to predict developments. But this is a very significant change.
The total amount of financial assistance to Ukraine in the project is $60.84 billion of which $23 billion will be used to replenish America’s arms stocks. The document also obliges US President Joe Biden to transfer ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, and the State Department and the Pentagon to present a US strategy to support Ukraine within 45 days.
It’s not really a loan
The bill proposes to provide aid to Ukraine on a credit basis, but Congress can forgive up to 50% of the debt after November 15, 2024.
The bill also provides for the possibility of confiscating the assets of the aggressor country, Russia, to repay the debt. In this regard, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson announced that he will put the Ukraine funding bill to a vote on April 20.
US President Joe Biden has promised to sign into law bills transferring aid to Ukraine and Israel. The American leader added that Israel is facing an unprecedented attack from Iran, and Ukraine is facing constant bombing from Russia, which has increased dramatically in the past month.
“The House should pass the package this week, and the Senate should quickly follow suit. “I will sign this legislation immediately to send a message to the world: we stand with our friends and will not allow Iran or Russia to succeed,” the US President said.
A spoke on wheels
Now American lawmakers have time to study them and, if necessary, propose amendments. For example, a Trumpist, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has already submitted idiotic edits to the project to support Ukraine. One of the amendments would require that any House member who votes for the Ukraine aid bill be required to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Greene’s other amendment is that Ukraine must “close all its biological laboratories” and hand over all data on such “research” to the US government, otherwise it will not receive funding.
Democrats are proposing to declare Greene “Putin’s ambassador to Congress” because of his views on Ukraine.
Greene previously told British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to “kiss his ass” after he called on Congress to approve aid to Ukraine.
In addition, Greene is known for supporting the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, according to which Donald Trump is waging a secret war with a “secret government” of pedophiles, consisting of the leadership of the Democratic Party and Hollywood star. He claimed that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were an “intelligence conspiracy.” And that in fact the plane never crashed into the Pentagon. He also called philanthropist George Soros, who survived the Holocaust, a Nazi.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.