President Joe Biden is looking to send an additional $33 billion of support to Ukraine, CNBC reports.
On Thursday (April 28), Biden will ask Congress to pass a $33 billion package that will aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. This is on top of the $14 billion that the Biden administration previously allocated to helping the country.
Now, Biden is requesting additional funds because the Russia-Ukraine conflict could last for "months or more," according to officials.
Biden said in a statement on Thursday, "It’s not cheap. But caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen."
“We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country, or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine every day," Biden continued.
A White House official said in a statement, “Today the President will speak about critical resources required for the United States to maintain our high level of assistance over the months to come. The White House official continued, "The President's funding request is what we believe is needed to enable Ukraine’s success over the next five months of this war.”
Among the massive aid package, $20.4 billion will go to security and military assistance to "ensure Ukraine has the weapons it needs to win this fight."
The Biden administration said this money will equip Ukrainians and NATO allies with additional artillery, armored vehicles, and advanced air defense systems among many other types of weaponry.
$8.5 billion will be directed to Ukraine's government so it can "continue performing basic functions, address food insecurity exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression, and support Ukrainian refugees and the countries that are providing them sanctuary."
Biden wrote in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, “Though we expect our NATO allies and EU partners will be making even larger collective contributions than the United States, there is no doubt that continuing to support Ukraine in this war against Russian aggression will require a substantial additional investment on our part."
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