US President Joe Biden signed a national security law providing for the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $61 billion, he said at a briefing at the White House.
“It’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for Europeans, it’s a good day for the world – and that matters,” Biden said.
According to him, signing the law will improve security not only for America, but also for the entire world, and will provide U.S. allies with vital support and the ability to defend themselves.
The US President added that Washington will begin supplying military aid to Kyiv “in the coming hours.” “We will begin sending ammunition for air defense systems, equipment for artillery, for missile systems, for army equipment to Ukraine,” Biden said.
The new $1 billion aid package to Ukraine includes air defense missiles, Stinger man-portable air defense systems, Javelin anti-tank systems, additional ammunition for the HIMARS MLRS, 155mm artillery shells, as well as Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other equipment, according to a Pentagon release. list.
The US Congress could not pass a national security bill since the fall due to internal disagreements: Republicans refused to approve the bill due to its lack of measures to protect the American border. The bill would provide nearly $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as well as $26 billion in aid to Israel and aid to Taiwan.
On April 20, 2024, the bill was approved by the US House of Representatives. Four days later, the Senate approved it. Biden’s signature remained the final step for the legislation to pass. The Washington Post wrote that once passed, it would take less than a week for some of the weapons to reach the battlefield. The New York Times noted that some of the weapons could arrive relatively quickly, but Ukrainian commanders and military analysts believe it will be weeks before US assistance begins to have an impact on the course of the fighting.
Tags: Biden signed law military assistance Ukraine Washington deliveries coming hours
