Biden administration asking Congress to allocate $10 bln for Ukraine against Russian aggression – media
The administration of U.S. President Joseph Biden is asking Congress for $10 billion for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, increasing the request from the original $6.4 billion, The Washington Post reports, citing two people familiar with the matter.
"To help Ukraine, the Biden administration is urging lawmakers to approve $10 billion, hoping to deal with the country's emerging humanitarian crisis in the face of an intensifying Russian offensive," The Washington Post said on Thursday.
This figure also includes assistance to bolster Ukraine's defenses, protect its electricity grid from disruption, and to provide further assistance to other European allies.
Initially, the Biden administration asked lawmakers for about $6.4 billion in Ukraine in the hope of boosting State Department and Pentagon programs in response to the geopolitical crisis.
"The money was meant to support the country at a time when the president, along with the international community, imposed historic sanctions on Russia and key Kremlin-linked individuals. But both Democrats and Republicans were quick to call for additional spending, and the Biden administration soon found a reason for it," the op-ed said.
The roughly $10 billion request, passed to Congress, will help train the Ukrainian army, strengthen its cybersecurity defenses, provide food and other humanitarian aid, and bolster its electricity supply.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/03/03/ukraine-covid-aid-white-house-request/?fbclid=IwAR2Ag20nYnm84DfD-PJdXP73XQ_cYqrKb5bxlM2FKSLmIhvbQ-58aD7qs8E