President Joe Biden announced a new round of funding to support Ukraine during remarks at the White House Thursday morning and said he’ll soon be asking Congress to approve additional funding to aid the war-ravaged nation.
Biden touted positive developments in the war in Ukraine, namely Russian troops leaving Kyiv to focus on the eastern Donbas region of the country, but he also said it’s now time to focus on the next phase.
“We are in a critical window of time now that they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said. “The U.S. and our allies and partners are moving as fast as possible to continue to provide Ukraine with the forces that they need, the weapons they need — excuse me, the equipment they need — their forces need, to defend their nation.”
Biden met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal ahead of the remarks.
THE BIZARRE HOTEL BAR SCENE AT THE EDGE OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE
The new round of funding includes another $800 million for 144,000 artillery rounds, 72 155 mm howitzers, which adds to the 18 the United States provided in the last aid package last week, 72 tactical vehicles to tow the howitzers, field equipment, and spare parts, according to a readout from the Pentagon.
The U.S. is also providing more than 120 Phoenix Ghost tactical unmanned aerial systems, a similar technology to Switchblades that the Air Force developed specifically to address Ukrainian needs, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters. This weapon will require “some minimal training,” he explained.
Switchblade drones are small “kamikaze” drones that can be used to fly short distances and are mounted with a small explosive that can attack personnel and vehicles.
The Pentagon didn’t provide many details about the newly developed drones.
The U.S. has begun training more than 50 Ukrainian military service members on the howitzers Washington is providing, according to a senior American defense official. The U.S. has already provided more than 10 anti-armor systems to Ukraine for every Russian tank, Biden said.
“To modernize Teddy Roosevelt’s famous advice, sometimes you will speak softly and carry a large javelin,” Biden said. “Because we’re sending a lot of those as well.”
This is the U.S.’s eighth military assistance package to Ukraine, and the total price tag is approximately $3.4 billion since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. The two most recent packages included different military weapons that are designed to help as the fighting centers in the Donbas, which has a different terrain from other parts of the country where fighting had been happening.
The president is also launching the “United for Ukraine” refugee program today, which senior administration officials called the flagship vehicle to admit the majority of the 100,000 Ukrainian refugees Biden promised to shelter. The program will go into effect on April 25.
Senior administration officials briefed reporters on the refugee program early Thursday morning, noting that the U.S. is already supplying more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance in response to “Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.”
To be eligible for the program, Ukrainians must meet the following criteria:
- Have been a resident of Ukraine on Feb. 11.
- Have a “sponsor” in the U.S. who can attest to his or her ability to support them.
- Complete vaccination and other public health requirements and pass biometric and biographic screening checks.
The program is designed to bring Ukrainians with existing ties to the U.S. to the states. Sponsors can be family members, friends, or charity organizations and must undergo background checks and screenings
While there is no limit to the number of Ukrainians each person is allowed to sponsor, administration officials stressed that this program is meant to be “temporary in nature” and not end in permanent resettlement.
Furthermore, officials directly petitioned Ukrainians not to travel to Mexico to seek entry to the U.S. at the southern border.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
While Biden stressed that he’s “not sitting on” the funding Congress has already provided for Ukraine, he said he’ll soon be asking for more.
“My expectation is Congress will move and act quickly,” he said. “I want to thank the Congress, Democrats and Republicans, for their support for the people of Ukraine. … Our unity at home, with our allies and partners, and with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin. He will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine.”
Toward the end of his remarks, Biden announced a new sanction banning all Russian-affiliated ships from American ports.
“We don’t know how long this war will last,” said the president. “But as we approach the two-month mark, here’s what we do know. Putin has failed to achieve his grand ambitions on the battlefield. After weeks of shelling Kyiv, Kyiv still stands.”
