President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that the United States will start delivering military equipment to Ukraine within “a few hours” following the approval of a foreign aid package that had been delayed for a long time.
In a statement released from the White House, President Biden announced that he has recently approved the $95 billion package. He expressed his belief that the implementation of this package will contribute to enhancing safety both within the United States and globally.
“It shouldn’t have been such a challenging journey to my desk, and it should have arrived much earlier,” Biden remarked regarding the legislation. The administration had initially proposed it last autumn, and it appeared to be on the brink of failure due to opposition from House Republicans, until Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly changed his stance.”
“But ultimately, we achieved what America has always done: we faced the challenge head-on, united, and successfully accomplished our goal,” the president added. “Now, it is imperative that we act swiftly, and we are already taking decisive action.”
The Congress has finally approved new aid for Ukraine in its battle against Russian invaders, amounting to approximately $61 billion. This marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time in over a year that such aid has been provided to the war-torn ally. The conflict has escalated in recent weeks, with Ukraine’s air defenses becoming increasingly depleted as a result of numerous Russian strikes.
The Biden administration prepared a military assistance package worth approximately $1 billion for Ukraine in anticipation of the legislation passing, according to a U.S. official interviewed by ABC News on Tuesday.
President Biden announced that Ukraine will receive vital supplies, including air defense munitions, artillery for rocket systems, and armored vehicles. These supplies will be sourced from the existing stockpiles of the United States, which will subsequently be replenished by American companies.
In a recent development, it has been confirmed by a senior administration official that Ukraine was supplied with long-range ATACMS missiles by the United States, under the guidance of President Biden. These missiles were utilized for the first time in an assault on Crimea last week, followed by another attack near Berdyansk on Tuesday, as confirmed by a United States official.
ATACM missiles have a typical range of 70 to 300 kilometers.
“We, as Americans, stand in solidarity with our friends,” proclaimed President Biden. “We refuse to succumb to dictators and will not bow down to anyone, especially not to Vladimir Putin.”
He criticized “MAGA Republicans” for obstructing aid for several months, causing Ukrainian supplies to dwindle while Russia received assistance from Iran, North Korea, and China.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Congress for approving the “essential assistance” and stressed the urgency of the matter.
“The crucial factor at present is the need for quick action,” he expressed in a statement shared on X. “It is essential to expedite the process of finalizing agreements with allies regarding the provision of weaponry for our soldiers. It is imperative to swiftly address and nullify any Russian strategies aimed at evading sanctions. We must act swiftly to identify political resolutions that safeguard lives from the scourge of Russian terrorism. Any leader who recognizes the urgency and avoids wasting time becomes a lifesaver.”
The foreign aid package comprises $26 billion allocated to Israel, which is currently engaged in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Additionally, $8 billion is set aside for our allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the package entails imposing sanctions on Russia, China, and Iran. Moreover, there is a provision to seize Russian assets to aid Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts following the war.
The package also includes a provision that compels a U.S. prohibition of TikTok if its Chinese parent company fails to divest from the app within one year. However, it is anticipated that the company will file a lawsuit in an attempt to prevent the implementation of this law.
In regards to the Israel aid, Biden expressed his unwavering dedication to the defense of the Jewish state. He stressed the inclusion of $1 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, highlighting the importance of Israel’s responsibility to ensure that aid, including essential supplies like food, water, and medicine, reaches Palestinian civilians promptly.
Biden expressed his disappointment over the fact that the law did not include provisions for border security.
Republican hard-liners and Johnson initially held the stance that foreign aid should be linked to border policy changes. They argued that addressing domestic issues, like immigration, should take precedence before sending more resources overseas. However, Johnson later rejected a bipartisan deal that would have made changes to asylum laws and increased the number of immigration judges. Following the collapse of the compromise, the Senate passed its own foreign aid bill, which stalled in the House. Last week, Johnson proceeded with individual votes on foreign aid, receiving support from Democrats.
During a recent statement, President Biden expressed his determination to include the bipartisan immigration proposal in the bill, emphasizing its significance for the American people.
In his closing remarks, Biden expressed his gratitude to the key congressional leaders who played a vital role in bringing this issue to a resolution. He thanked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for their efforts in finally finding common ground on this matter.
According to him, despite the prevalent notion of dysfunction in Washington, a closer examination of the past three years reveals that there have been multiple instances where the government has successfully united on significant matters.
