Following the example of the Second World War, the American Congress passed a law that made rapid and extensive arms deliveries to Eastern Europe possible. Washington is thus sending a clear signal of strength to Moscow.
Speaking in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Thursday, President Biden pledged long-term and robust arms assistance to Ukraine.
When Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine, he was probably assuming a blitzkrieg that would confront the surprised West with a fait accompli. It turned out differently. And the longer the heroic Ukrainians defend themselves against the Russian aggressors, the more united and determined American support for Kiev’s struggle for freedom appears.
On Thursday morning, President Joe Biden first asked Congress for a significant increase in aid to Ukraine. In March, parliament already approved a $13.6 billion package, of which around $3.5 billion went to direct arms sales to Ukraine and $3 billion to additional troops in Eastern Europe. However, this money has already been used up. And now Biden is demanding another $33 billion, with $20 billion in military aid to Ukraine are to be issued.
«The cost of this fight is not small. But it will cost us more if we give in to aggression.” in a short speech from the Roosevelt Room in the White House. Biden gave Putin to understand that the US would have staying power: “As long as the attacks and atrocities continue, we will continue our arms deliveries.” The additional billions would enable the transition to longer-term military aid to Ukraine “with even more artillery, armored vehicles, and anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems.”
Ukraine unites Democrats and Republicans
Congress should easily approve the billions Biden has requested for Ukraine. The otherwise divided Democrats and Republicans agree on solidarity with Kyiv: On Thursday afternoon, the House of Representatives passed the “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act” with an overwhelming majority of 417 to 10 votes. The Senate had previously passed the bill unanimously.
The law follows the example of Lend-Lease Act of 1941. At the time, the British government had informed Washington that the fight against the Axis powers was driving them into bankruptcy and that they could no longer pay for arms supplies. The law authorized President Franklin Roosevelt to provide military equipment to any country he deemed vital to US national security. When he signed the document said Roosevelt: “Now our country will be what our people proclaimed it to be – the armory of democracy.”
After Biden the law has signed, will allow his government to unbureaucratically supply arms not only to Ukraine, but also to other Eastern European states that have been affected by Russian aggression or may be targeted by Moscow in the future. Basically, Washington could now hand over armaments to Kyiv on the mere condition that they would have to be paid for at a later date, writes the Reuters news agency.
Like Roosevelt then, advocates of the law are now emphasizing the global struggle for democracy. For example, Senator John Cornyn of Texas said: “How we deal with threats to the sovereignty of a democracy sends a message about how we will react in other cases. Opponents like China look to us.”
Biden has long warned of the danger posed by increasingly aggressive autocracies such as Russia and China. In order to convince his American voters of the importance of this fight, the President emphasized on Thursday: “Investing in the freedom and security of Ukraine is a small price to pay to punish Russia for aggression and to reduce the risk of future conflicts.” For next week, the American President also announced a visit to the factory in Alabama where Lockheed Martin manufactures the Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Thanks in part to American Javelin missiles, the Ukrainian army was able to stop the Russian tank columns.
Biden said he wanted to thank the “American workers” for producing the weapons that helped stop the Russian advance in Ukraine.
Russian oligarch funds for Kyiv
In order to provide additional support for Ukraine, the President also sent Congress a “comprehensive legislative package” on Thursday. This is intended to accelerate and expand the seizure of Russian oligarch assets abroad. “The law ensures that once the assets are sold, the funds can be used directly to repair the damage caused by Russia and to build up Ukraine.”
While Russian propaganda has helped to divide American society in recent years, Putin has now largely unified it with the invasion of Ukraine. In January, 41 percent of Americans still saw Russia as an enemy, it’s now 70 percent. The biggest shift in opinion has been among Republican voters, who have previously had a more positive attitude towards Moscow than Democratic voters under Donald Trump’s influence. Two years ago, 32 percent of Republicans rated Russia as “very negative,” now it’s 67 percent.
So far, however, Biden has not been able to score points with voters with his leading role in the Ukraine war. His approval ratings are unchanged at a low 42 percent. and according to a new poll 56 percent of Americans believe that the President was “not tough enough” on Russia.