Biden signs aid bill to resume Ukraine weapons supplies ‘immediately’ – Bloomberg

President Biden announced on the 24th that he had signed a bill that will provide security assistance worth a total of $95 billion (approximately 14.7 trillion yen) to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, and that aid to Ukraine will resume within “hours.” He said it would be done. Aid to U.S.-aligned countries in distress, such as Ukraine, had been delayed for a long time due to a fierce political battle with Republican lawmakers, but it appears that a resolution has finally been reached.

Biden’s signature will allow the United States to quickly resume supplying weapons to Ukraine. But Ukraine has struggled during the eight-month delay in U.S. aid, and even with new arms and ammunition, it may be difficult to regain control of the war.

“I’m confident that supplies will start immediately. We’ll begin shipping military equipment, air defense missiles, rockets, armored vehicles, to Ukraine in the next few hours, literally within hours,” Biden said at the White House. Ta.

“This is a great day for America, Americans, and world peace. America will be safer, the world will be safer, and it will contribute to America’s continued leadership in the world.” .

Of the aid approved this time, $61 billion went to Ukraine. The first batch, worth $1 billion, will include surface-to-air interceptor missiles, artillery shells, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons, the US said. In addition, U.S. and Ukrainian officials confirmed for the first time that the assistance will include a long-range version of the ATACMS tactical ballistic missile system.

“In the past few days, we have worked diligently with our friends in the United States at all levels to ensure that the aid package includes the weapons our soldiers need,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his regular address to the nation on the 24th. He continued, “I will do everything I can to make up for the six months I’ve lost in discussions and doubts.”

Biden privately approved the use of the long-range ATACMS in February, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The missile was recently used for the first time in an attack on Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine, the New York Times reported.

The aid law also gives Biden the authority to seize an estimated $5 billion in Russian assets held in U.S. banks and use them to aid Ukraine. The move was criticized, saying that if carried out unilaterally without allies, it could hurt demand for the dollar and U.S. Treasuries.

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Original title: Biden Signs Ukraine Bill, Offers Long-Range Missiles Kyiv Sought (excerpt)

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