The White House asked Congress on Friday to provide $6.4 billion to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, according to multiple reports.
The money would be split, with $3.5 billion going to the Pentagon and $2.9 billion shared between security assistance, humanitarian aid, economic stabilization needs, and regional efforts, an administration official told Axios. Additionally, a portion of the $2.9 billion would be set aside to aid Ukraine’s neighboring countries.
“As the President and bipartisan members of Congress have made clear, the United States is committed to supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy,” an official from the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.
NATO RESPONSE FORCE DEPLOYED FOR FIRST TIME AFTER RUSSIAN INVASION
The official said the administration “identified the need for additional U.S. humanitarian, security, and economic assistance to Ukraine and Central European partners” due to the Russian invasion. He also stated that the administration will “remain in close touch with Congress” as the needs of Ukraine and U.S. partners in Central Europe evolve.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden leveled new economic penalties on the Russian financial system and Kremlin elites and sanctioned the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline this week amid the invasion. The White House announced plans Friday for the United States to join European allies in directly sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin and top members of his national security team.
The White House defended Biden’s decision not to deploy U.S. forces into Ukraine on Friday despite acknowledging Putin’s “larger ambitions” of restoring the former Soviet Union. Biden has been “clear” regarding U.S. support of NATO defense operations, according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
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Putin called upon the Ukrainian military to overthrow its government Friday, chastising its leadership as a “band of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.” He accused Ukraine’s first Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky, of holding the nation hostage and said the goal of his invasion was to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.
