President Joe Biden signed a measure into law on Monday aimed at speeding up the process of providing military support to Ukraine as Russia’s incursion proceeds.
“The horrors that the Russians are involved in are really beyond the pale,” Biden stated at an Oval Office signing ceremony for the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act on Monday afternoon.
“I’m signing a bill that adds to our efforts to support the Ukrainian government and people in their fight to defend their country and democracy against Putin’s brutal war, which is brutal,” Biden said, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and the bill’s sponsors, Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz, Michigan Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, and Maryland Democratic Sen. BenCardin.
Putin gave a speech on Russia’s Victory Day earlier in the day. Despite expectations that Putin would divulge more about his ambitions in Ukraine, he provided little hints about the conflict’s trajectory.
Putin’s assertions that NATO is “creating risks along our border,” according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, are “patently incorrect and ludicrous.”
“What we saw President Putin do was present a kind of revisionist history in the guise of falsehoods,” Psaki told reporters at the White House.
Biden remarked at the Oval Office signing that Sunday was V-E Day, which commemorates the conclusion of WWII in Europe, and Monday is Europe Day, which commemorates the endeavor at European unity that led to the creation of the European Union. He also chastised Putin for bringing “wanton carnage” to Europe through the war.
The new measure passed with a bipartisan majority in the US House and Senate, easing some of the conditions for the US to lend or lease military equipment to Ukraine. The bill’s supporters claim it provides Biden far more ability to assist Ukraine in defending itself against Russia and addresses how the US can transfer weapons to Ukraine more quickly.
“This law will allow us to give Ukraine the defense armaments it needs to protect itself against Mr. Putin’s actions in a timely manner. It also sends a strong message to our NATO partners that they must do even more as we consider how to ensure Ukraine’s success in the military operation that Mr. Putin launched “Following the bill’s approval last month, Cardin stated.
The bill’s signing comes as Biden continues to push for billions more in military financing. In late April, he requested $33 billion in help for Ukraine from Congress. When asked last week if Democrats would try to attach the blocked $10 billion Covid-19 relief package to $33 billion in Ukraine assistance, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, was noncommittal.
According to a congressional source, Biden has instructed congressional leaders to move the Ukraine assistance package first, without the $10 billion in Covid funding.
The White House does not want the Ukraine package to become mired down in the chamber, despite Democrats’ efforts to link the two amid concerns that the US response to the epidemic will be hampered.
