US Congress releases $40 billion for Ukraine

The US Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington (illustrative image).

AP - Susan Walsh

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

This gigantic envelope is an illustration of the military and humanitarian support promised by Joe Biden to kyiv.

It was the subject of a rare consensus among the political class.

The US Senate has also appointed a new ambassador of the country to Ukraine.

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"

Aid measures for Ukraine are much more than simple charity

", assured the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, a few hours before the upper house of Congress approved these funds to a very broad majority.

American security and strategic interests will be shaped by the outcome of this conflict

,” said the elected official.

Of this envelope, 6 billion dollars should allow Ukraine to equip itself with armored vehicles and strengthen its anti-aircraft defense, at a time when fighting is raging in the east and south of the country.

Nearly 9 billion dollars are also planned to ensure, among other things, "

the continuity of Ukrainian democratic institutions

", as well as a large humanitarian component. 

The bill, already validated by the elected members of the House last week, only has to be ratified by President Biden.

In mid-March, 

Congress had already released nearly 14 billion dollars

for the Ukrainian crisis.

But US President Joe Biden has been calling for a significant budget extension for several weeks to support Ukraine in the new phase of the conflict.

According to the Democratic leader, the resources provided by the United States to help Ukraine were about to dry up.

kyiv embassy reopened

A rarity in a Congress so accustomed to political squabbles: these $40 billion in expenditures – the equivalent of Cameroon's GDP in 2020 – benefited from very broad cross-partisan support.

"

When it comes to Putin, we choose to either pay now or pay him later

," argued Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, not really known for supporting Joe Biden's policies.

► To read also: G7 Finances: the great powers in search of a budget for Ukraine

After being confined to weapons seen as defensive, Washington is now sending artillery, helicopters and drones to the Ukrainian army, whose soldiers are trained in the use of these weapons in the United States or in third countries before returning to the front. .

A traditional ally of American presidents in foreign policy, the Senate also confirmed Bridget Brink, a career diplomat, as the country's new ambassador to Ukraine on Wednesday evening.

The United States had not had an ambassador in Kyiv since 2019.

(

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AFP)

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  • Ukraine

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  • Joe Biden