WASHINGTON (AP) – Washington tried to portray a united front against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to restart World War II-era land lease that helped defeat Nazi Germany. to support Kyiv and Eastern European allies.
The signing comes as the US Congress is ready to unleash billions more to fight the war against Russia – with Democrats preparing $ 40 billion in military and humanitarian aid, more than the $ 33 billion package Biden asked for.
All this serves as a duplicate for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is taking advantage of Victory Day in Europe – the anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945 and Russia’s biggest patriotic holiday – to unite his people behind the invasion.
“This assistance was crucial to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden said it was urgent for Congress to approve the next aid package for Ukraine to avoid disrupting military supplies sent to support the war, with a decisive deadline coming in 10 days.
“We cannot allow our aid deliveries to stop while we wait for further action by Congress,” he said. He called on Congress to act – and “do it quickly”.
In a letter delivered to Capitol Hill on Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called on Congress to act before May 19, when existing withdrawals run out. The Pentagon has already sent or engaged all but $ 100 million of the $ 3.5 billion in weapons and equipment it can send to Ukraine from its existing stockpiles. And that $ 100 million is expected to be used no later than May 19, they said.
“In short, we need your help,” they said in a letter received from the Associated Press. “The ability to use existing Defense Ministry stockpiles has been a critical tool in our efforts to support Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression, which allows us to quickly equip equipment and ensure a steady flow of security aid to Ukraine.
Biden and Congress’ determination to maintain their support for Ukraine is enduring, but also surprising. Yet as the months-long war with Russia continues, the bipartisan performance for Ukraine will be tested as the United States and its allies approach the conflict.
The House of Representatives may vote this week on an enhanced aid package for Ukraine by sending legislation to the Senate, which is working to confirm Biden nominee Bridget Brink as Ukraine’s new ambassador.
Since the presidential party has only the smallest majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate, Republican cooperation is preferred, if not vital in some cases, to moving the president’s strategy toward the region.
“I think we will be able to do it as soon as possible,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said over the weekend about the emerging aid package. “We have a great bipartisan attitude towards our support for the struggle for democracy that the people of Ukraine are making.
Despite differences over Biden’s approach to foreign policy and alleged mistakes in opposing Russia when it comes to Ukraine, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have come together to support the president’s strategy.
The lease bill Biden signed on Monday revived a World War II strategy to send military equipment to Ukraine faster. Created during World War II, it signaled that the United States would become what Franklin D. Roosevelt called an “arsenal of democracy,” helping Britain and its allies fight Nazi Germany.
Before signing the bill, Biden said that “Putin’s war” was “once again bringing senseless destruction to Europe”, citing the importance of the day.
Accompanied by two Democrat MPs and a Republican, Biden signed the bill, which had broad bipartisan support. He passed the Senate last month by unanimous agreement, without even requiring a formal roll-call vote. He passed by an overwhelming majority in the House, provoking opposition from only 10 Republicans.
“It really matters,” Biden said of bipartisan support for Ukraine. “It matters.”
One of the main Republican sponsors of the bill, Sen. John Cornin of Texas, said in a statement that the measure would give Ukraine “superiority over Russia and I am glad that America can act as an arsenal of democracy for this critical partner.”
Other measures, including efforts to stop Russian oil imports into the United States and calls for an investigation into Putin’s war crimes, have also received widespread support, although some lawmakers have forced Biden to do more.
“As President Putin and the Russian people celebrate Victory Day today, we see Russian forces committing war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine as they engage in a brutal war that causes so much suffering and unnecessary destruction,” the White House spokesman said. Jen Psaki. She said Putin was “perverting” history to try to “justify his unprovoked and unjustified war.”
Biden acknowledged that his request for more military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine would have to be separated from the money he also asked Congress to address the COVID-19 crisis at home.
Separating the two funding requests would be a failure for the president to insist on more spending on COVID-19, but a bias toward the political reality of Congress.
Republicans in Congress are reluctant to spend more money at home as the pandemic crisis moves into a new phase, and Biden did not want to delay money for Ukraine, trying to discuss the issue further.
Biden said congressional leaders on both sides had told him that maintaining the two linked spending packages would slow things down.
“We cannot afford to delay this vital military effort,” Biden said in a statement. “I am therefore ready to take these two measures separately, so that the bill on Ukrainian aid can reach my bureau immediately.
While the now-backed package for Ukraine is making its way through the House of Representatives and the Senate, and will soon be voted on, lawmakers are showing no signs of trembling. Countless lawmakers made weekend trips to the region to see first-hand the devastation of the war in Ukraine and surrounding countries as more than 5 million refugees flee the country.
Instead of fighting spending abroad – as was increasingly popular during the Trump era – some lawmakers on both sides want to increase the amount of US aid sent to Ukraine.
___
Associated Press authors Alan Fram, Lolita C. Baldor and Will Weisart contributed to this report.
Add Comment