On 20 October, US President Joe Biden will send the “urgent budget request” to Congress for support to Ukraine and Israel, the US President said in his address to the American people on 19 October.
Joe Biden said he would send that request to Congress on Friday to “fund America’s national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine.”
The US President didn’t mention the amount of the request. However, yesterday, on 19 October NBC News reported that Biden expected to seek $60 billion for Ukraine in a $100 billion funding request.
The rest of the package request which is most likely to be prepared for the fiscal year that is estimated at $100 billion, will include $40 billion to aid Israel, Taiwan, and the US-Mexico border.
In his address to the Americans on 19 October, Biden explained that it was a smart investment that would pay dividends for American security for generations.
“Help us keep American troops safe. Help us build a safer, more peaceful, more prosperous world for our children and grandchildren,” he added.
He also urged lawmakers to support the budget request to ensure continued military assistance so Ukraine can defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
According to Biden, when Russia invaded Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to seize Kyiv and the entire country within days. A year later, Putin has lost. “He continues to lose,” said Biden, noting that Ukrainian forces have retaken over 50% of territory captured by Russian troops.
Biden explained the importance of backing Ukraine and Israel, saying lessons of history show terrorists and dictators must be made to pay a price for aggression or it leads to more chaos, death and destruction, increasing the cost and threat to Americans.
“Putin will not limit himself to Ukraine,” warned Biden, referencing Putin’s reminder that western Poland was a gift and Russian officials calling the Baltics “Russian provinces.” Biden vowed NATO would defend every inch of member territory.
“If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same. The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world, in the Indo Pacific, in the Middle East, ” he said.
Biden compared Putin to Hamas militants, saying their invasion of Ukraine and attacks on Israel share the common motivation of destroying a neighbouring democracy.
“Let me be clear. The money Congress has provided, we are using it to replenish our own arsenal. America is building an arsenal of democracy. We are fighting for freedom.”
Biden stressed unity in the face of terrorists and tyrants trying to divide Americans, saying “We cannot allow terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin to succeed.”
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