Emerson Phillips
The United States is providing an additional $500 million in financial assistance to Ukraine to help the war-torn country keep its basic government services running as the war with Russia moves into its third month.
The money will help cover the cost of pensions, salaries, and aid programs.
“We plan to deploy this direct aid to Ukraine as soon as possible, to be used on the most urgent needs,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Thursday. “We know this is only the beginning of what Ukraine will need to rebuild.”
President Biden said Thursday that new federal spending must be approved by the House and Senate before the president can sign the bill and send out the money.
Videos by Rare
“This is money the government can help use to stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine,” Biden said Thursday morning.
“In order to sustain Ukraine for the duration of this fight, next week I’m going to have to be sending to Congress a supplemental budget request to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters, continue to deliver economic assistance to the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.
The U.S. and its allies have provided tens of billions of dollars in military and economic support to Ukraine as it attempts to fend off the Russian invasion. Mass emigration, compulsory military service for working-age men, the destruction of Ukrainian cities, and the upended wheat planting season have derailed the Ukrainian economy.
Earlier today, President Biden announced the U.S. will send another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine to help fight invading Russian forces. It includes heavy artillery, dozens of howitzers, 144,000 rounds of ammunition to be used with the howitzers, and more tactical drones, Biden said.
