Biden Administration Unveils $10 Billion Ukraine Aid Package As War Enters 2nd Year

Topline

The Biden Administration announced an additional $10 billion aid package to Ukraine on Friday, hours after announcing another $2 billion in military aid and a new round of sanctions targeting Russia, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleads for western support to win the war.

Key Facts

The aid package includes financial support to the Ukrainian government as well as energy assistance for its citizens “suffering from Russia’s attacks,” including on Ukraine’s power grid and infrastructure, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in a statement Friday afternoon.

That includes $250 million to address “immediate needs,” including “critical” power grid equipment.

Blinken said the U.S. has also started distributing $9.9 billion in grant financing being disbursed by the World Bank’s Public Expenditures for Administrative Capacity Endurance (PEACE) program, which he said is “crucial to Ukraine” to provide healthcare, education and emergency services to its citizens.

The news comes as Zelensky announced in a defiant rebuke of Russian aggression that Ukrainian forces “will win” the war this year so long as its western allies remain united “like a fist” and continue to provide military equipment and artillery to assist its forces.

In a tweet on Friday, Blinken said the support provides “critical budget and energy assistance” for Ukraine, saying: “We stand with you.”

News Peg

The U.S. will also send an additional $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the Department of Defense announced Friday morning, including advanced equipment such as drones, high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and counter-drone equipment.

Key Background

The announcement comes nearly one month after the U.S. agreed to send high-power Abrams tanks to Ukraine, marking a u-turn in its aid policy after months of demurring amid repeated requests from Kyiv for the tanks. It comes as U.S. officials warn Russia, which has continued to pelt Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas, could be planning a major offensive to mark the one-month anniversary of the invasion. Russian attacks, however, are now subject to an international investigation into allegations of Russian atrocities and war crimes. According to U.S. envoy Beth Van Schaack, who told Sky News Friday morning it’s only a matter of time before Russian President Vladimir Putin is put on trial for war crimes.

Tangent

Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting Friday, Blinken argued in favor of peace in Ukraine, reiterating a plea from President Joe Biden for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war. Those peace negotiations, however, would need to assure that Russia’s land grab in Ukraine is not legitimate, Blinken said, arguing a peace talk that recognizes new Russian territory would “send a message to would-be aggressors” that invasion is something they could “get away with.”

Further Reading

Zelensky: Ukraine Will Win War This Year If Allies Remain United ‘Like A Fist’ (Forbes)

Biden Reportedly Plans $2 Billion Ukraine Aid Package Ahead Of Feared Russian Offensive (Forbes)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/02/24/biden-administration-unveils-10-billion-ukraine-aid-package-as-war-enters-2nd-year/