Around sixty billion, with the arrival of the first military supplies by next week: this is how much the new American aid package is worth that Congress could approve by the weekend, complete with President Joe Biden's signature.
The Pentagon is already preparing the first batch, which will include artillery ammunition (starting with the 155 mm ones) and air defense vehicles such as the Patriot, which Kiev desperately needs to defend itself from the growing Russian offensive. What shortens delivery times is the fact that part of the armaments are located in American arsenals in Europe.
Over a third of the funds (23.2 billion) will remain in the USA, to replenish US warehouses, partly emptied to provide assistance to Ukraine. The rest of the aid will be distributed in two directions: 13.8 billion dollars will be allocated to the purchase of advanced weapons systems, products and services for the defense of Ukraine, 11.3 billion dollars will be spent on operations US military underway in Europe. The bill also provides direct financial aid to the Ukrainian budget amounting to 7.85 billion dollars but in the form of a loan that can be canceled by the president after the elections on November 5: no problem if Biden remains, while Donald Trump could request its return. In any case these funds cannot be used to pay pensions.
Another interesting point of the provision is the obligation for the US president to immediately transfer the long-range Atacms missiles to Ukraine. Unless he believes it harms American national interests, in which case he will have to inform Congress and risk being accused by Republicans of not doing all he can for Kiev. A separate bill also authorizes the president to transfer Russian assets frozen in the US to Ukraine (most of which are blocked in Europe): a figure of at least 8 billion is estimated, earmarked for reconstruction.
In addition to new American aid, Kiev can hope for the promises of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, according to which the Alliance countries have agreed to give Ukraine further military support, from 155 mm ammunition to drones and air defenses. , between Patriot and Samp/T.
Biden thanks the House, which puts the country's security first
Joe Biden thanked the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the Democratic leader in the House Jeffries and the bipartisan coalition of deputies in the House who,
by approving aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, "voted to put our national security first" and urged the Senate to quickly pass the package and send it to his desk for signature "so we can immediately send weapons and equipment" to Kiev.
Zelensky 'This will save thousands and thousands of lives'
“I am grateful to the United States House of Representatives, to both parties, and personally to President Mike Johnson for the decision that
keeps history on the right track.” This is the comment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky upon the US House's approval of the bill that allocates 60 billion dollars for Ukraine.
"Democracy and freedom will always have a global meaning and will never disappear as long as America helps to protect them - he adds -. The vital US aid bill will prevent the war from spreading, it will save thousands and thousands of lives". .
For Moscow, the US's approval of aid will kill even more Ukrainians
The US House's approval of aid to Ukraine "will kill even more Ukrainians because of the Kiev regime". Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov said this.