Biden signs bill expediting military aid to Ukraine

Name: Biden signs bill expediting military aid to Ukraine
Uploaded: 10 May 2022, 10:26:24 AM
Duration: 01:50
Channel: TIMESOFINDIA.COM

May 10, 2022, 10:26:24 AM | AP

Washington sought to portray a united front against Russia's invasion of Ukraine Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era "lend-lease" program that helped defeat Nazi Germany to bolster Kyiv and the U.S.'s Eastern European allies. The new legislation is largely symbolic, but comes as Congress is poised to unleash more resources with $33 billion to fight the war. It all serves as a rejoinder to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seized on V-E day, the anniversary of Germany's unconditional surrender and Russia's biggest patriotic holiday, to rally his people behind the invasion. Before signing the bill, Biden said that "Putin's war" was "once more bringing wanton destruction of Europe," drawing reference to the significance of the day. Flanked by two Democratic lawmakers and one Republican, Biden signed the bill, which had sailed through the Senate last month with unanimous agreement, not even the need for a formal roll call vote. It passed overwhelmingly in the House, drawing opposition from just 10 Republicans. "It really matters," Biden said of the bipartisan support for Ukraine. "It matters." Despite their differences over Biden's approach and perceived missteps in confronting Russia, when it comes to Ukraine the members of the House and Senate have hold together in a rare bipartisan fashionOther measures, including calls to investigate Putin for war crimes, have also gained widespread support. Biden's latest request for $33 billion more in military and humanitarian aid will pull the U.S. deeper into the conflict, and test the resolve in Congress. Democrats are considering boosting the total amount. But as the package makes its way through the House and Senate, with votes possible soon, lawmakers are showing no signs of flinching. Countless lawmakers have made weekend excursions to the region to see first-hand the the of the war on Ukraine and surrounding countries, as more than 5 million refugees flee the region. Rather than fight the spending overseas — as had been an increasingly popular viewpoint during the Trump era — some lawmakers in both parties want to boost the amount of U.S. aid being sent to Ukraine.