Biden Signs $61 Billion Military Aid Bill for Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden, in a message to his fellow citizens, announced that he has signed a national security document providing $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine.
“I just signed the funding package that the House of Representatives approved over the weekend, and the Senate passed yesterday. This will strengthen the security of the United States and the entire world,” said the President of the United States (the speech was broadcast on the White House website).
“In the coming hours, we will begin sending weapons to Ukraine. This includes air defense systems and artillery munitions, missiles, and armored vehicles,” the U.S. President added.
The announced amount will not be used entirely for weapon shipments. About $20 billion will be spent on replenishing U.S. military stockpiles. Another part of the funds will be used to finance the activities of American troops in the vicinity of Ukraine. Approximately $14 billion will be allocated for the independent acquisition of weapons by Ukraine.
The national security law, which has been under discussion in the U.S. Congress for about six months, also includes an additional aid package for Israel amounting to $26.4 billion, of which $9.1 billion will be directed to humanitarian needs. In addition, the United States will provide assistance to allies in the Indo-Pacific region: $8.1 billion is allocated for “countering China,” with another $2 billion designated for the funding of Taiwan and other allies.