Historic decision: Biden requests $106 billion from Congress for Ukraine and Israel

Joe Biden has officially requested record aid for Ukraine and Israel from Congress. The US President has asked for a record $106 billion of assistance from Congress.

Source: The White House

The most significant request in this package amounts to more than $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The Biden Administration also called for additional support worth $14.3 billion for Israel, an assistance package worth $2 billion for Taiwan, and over $9 billion for humanitarian aid.

According to the White House, the additional funding request will help to invest around $50 billion in the US defence industry, CNBC reported.

According to the Voice of America journalist Ostap Yarysh, the assistance package for Ukraine will include the following:

• $30 billion for Pentagon arms programs for Ukraine and replenishment of the stockpiles of the US Army;
• $14.4 billion for military, intelligence, and other security support;
• $16.3 billion for the US State Department’s economic, security, and operational support programs;
• $481 million for programs to support Ukrainians arriving in the United States under the U4U program;
• $149 million for nuclear and radiological threat response and capacity building.

Joe Biden announced an urgent budget request to Congress for Ukraine and Israel one day earlier in his primetime speech to the American people.

The US President compared the events this month in Israel to nearly 20 months of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He accused Hamas and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin of wanting to “annihilate a neighbouring democracy” but noted that they “represent different threats.”

The US president said that support for both wars in Israel and Ukraine is “vital for America’s national security.” Biden warned, more broadly, that US adversaries and competitors “are watching.”

“We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen”.

Joe Biden, US President

Zelenskyy-Biden talks

On 20 October, Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Joe Biden. The Ukrainian President thanked Joe Biden for the implementation of defence agreements. In particular, for the provision of ATACMS missiles. He stressed that they would help speed up the liberation of Ukrainian territories.

“I spoke with US President Joseph Biden and thanked him for effectively implementing our recent defence agreements. Ukrainians were very encouraged by the receipt of ATACMS missiles, and our soldiers are successfully using them on the battlefield,” the Ukrainian President said.

Ukrainian President described the conversation as allied. Ukraine received a strong signal of support. The two presidents discussed further steps in cooperation between the two countries. They addressed the defence of freedom.

Mr Zelenskyy noted that he was also grateful to Congress – both parties and the entire American people. The United States has been actively supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.