By Shannon Pettypiece and Rebecca Shabad —
NBC News
President Joe Biden on Thursday asked Congress for $33 billion to expand military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, where the war is expected to last for months.
The funding request includes $20 billion in military and security aid (weapons and ammunition for Ukraine and its allies and money to replenish the US arsenal) and $8.5 billion to deal with the humanitarian crisis in that country and combat Russian disinformation, according to explained a senior official.
“Investing in the freedom and security of Ukraine is a small price to pay to punish Russian aggression, to lessen the risk of future conflict,” Biden said, “Throughout our history, we have learned that when dictators don't pay the At the price of their aggression they cause more chaos and engage in more aggression, they keep moving forward.
The cost, the threat to America and the world continue to rise.
We cannot allow this to happen."
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The White House also requested an additional $3 billion in humanitarian aid, including funding for refugees and efforts to address global food shortages caused by disruptions to Ukraine's agricultural sector.
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The funding request, which is scheduled for the next five months, adds to the $13.6 billion in funding for military equipment and humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees that Congress approved last month and has already been appropriated.
That package included $3 billion in military aid.
Biden said he will travel to Alabama next week to visit a Lockheed Martin plant that makes the Javelin anti-tank missile, which the United States has been sending to Ukraine.
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In his remarks from the White House, Biden also called on Congress to pass a $22 billion COVID-19 funding bill.
He also asked Congress for money to increase crop production and address world food shortages as a result of the war in Ukraine;
and resources to use defense production law to drive mining for critical minerals and materials that have been affected by war.
"This funding is going to help ease rising food prices, both at home and abroad," Biden said.
The request to Congress provides a snapshot of the needs US officials see in the coming conflict.
The White House projects $5.4 billion to replenish Defense Department stockpiles;
$1.9 billion to increase cyber capabilities;
and 2.6 billion for the deployment of troops to support NATO allies.
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"The conflict has now entered a different, and no less dangerous, phase as Russia shifts the focus of its assault to southern and eastern Ukraine," a senior administration official said.
“This fight could well last for months or more.
This conflict will continue to test our unity and our collective resolve to provide Ukraine with what it needs,” he added.
Biden will also ask Congress to apply new sanctions on Russia to strengthen the authority of the United States to hold the Russian regime and its oligarchs accountable.
"We are going to confiscate your yachts, your luxury homes and other ill-gotten gains from [Vladimir] Putin's kleptocracy," Biden said.
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These proposals are intended to make it easier to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs, allow the transfer of money to Ukraine from confiscated assets, and target assets used to facilitate sanctions evasion.
It also seeks to improve the ability to work with international partners to recover assets linked to foreign corruption.
“We are not attacking Russia, we are helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression, and just as Putin chose to launch this brutal invasion, he could make the decision to end it,” Biden said, adding: “Russia is the aggressor, not Russia. there are buts that count, Russia is the aggressor, and the world must and will hold Russia accountable”.