US President Joe Biden is reportedly seeking additional funding from Congress, including for Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, Biden intends to ask legislators for at least $25 billion in supplemental funding. The requested funding is expected to include around $12 billion for disaster relief and $13 billion for defense funds, with some of the latter allocated to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. However, the specific amount that will be allocated for Ukraine has not yet been clarified.
The Biden administration has already provided around $100 billion in funding for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia, with Congress passing the largest package of $45 billion in December. However, the growing costs of supporting Ukraine have led to opposition among Republicans, who have called for better oversight of spending. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has voiced concerns about increased spending on Ukraine and vowed to block any bill that undercuts new caps on US spending.
The news of the impending request for more aid to Ukraine comes after a poll conducted by CNN revealed that the majority of Americans do not believe Congress should authorize additional funding for Kiev. McCarthy questioned the need for more funding, asking, “What about the money we have already spent? What is the money for and what is victory?”
Despite the poll results, the White House has downplayed their significance and emphasized the importance of US support for Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated that America’s backing for Ukraine remains solid and vital not only for Ukraine but also for European and NATO allies, as the conflict is in close proximity to them.
“We have seen throughout this war solid support from the American people, solid support from the Congress in a bipartisan and bicameral way for continuing to support Ukraine, and we’re going to stay focused on that,” Kirby added.
It is evident that the debate over additional funding for Ukraine is contentious, with differing opinions from lawmakers and the public. As the Biden administration seeks additional funds and Congress deliberates over the allocation, the outcome will have significant implications for the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The situation highlights the importance of diplomatic and financial support for Ukraine, as well as the need for careful consideration of budgetary constraints and oversight of spending.
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