Biden asks Congress to allow $33 bln aid for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has asked Congress to give its consent to the allocation of $33 billion to fund both humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine through September of this year. 

 

The large-scale aid package comes with a proposal to Congress that it amend several criminal laws to make it easier for the US to sell off the seized assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs.

 

“It’s not cheap. But caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen,” Biden said Thursday.

 

“We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country, or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine every day,” said Biden.

 

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. 

 

Hostilities have been in progress since then. 

 

NATO officials say that the war may continue several years, pledging support for Ukraine.