Ukraine-Russia war. Biden announced the Huge $ 33 Billion Aid Package to Ukraine

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, seems ready to stop the war in Ukraine at all costs and stop the ambitions of Russia, which has a difficult economy and despite the fact that the Americans are increasingly wary of spending money on that battle.

The White House chief on Thursday unveiled a new spending package with a staggering 33,000 million dollars of humanitarian aid in kyiv and asked Congress to approve the payment quickly. “Giving” is not an option, he said.

“The cost of this fight is not cheap,” Biden argued in statements from the Roosevelt Room at the White House. “But giving in to aggression will be more costly if we let it happen.”

“Either we stand up for the Ukrainian people as they defend their country,” he said, “or we stand up as the Russians continue their atrocities.”

The spending is greater than the United States has promised to date, and is intended not only to defend Ukraine, but to weaken and prevent Russia from a war that has now been going on for two months and shows some signs of ending. American leaders are increasingly open about their hope that the conflict will result not only in Ukraine’s survival, but also in a significantly weakened Russia.

Biden also announced on Thursday a proposal to allow U.S. authorities to liquidate the assets of Russian oligarchs and donate the proceeds to Ukraine, seeking what appear to be new legal powers. to expand America’s financial war against the Kremlin amid bipartisan pressure in Congress.

“We will seize their yachts, their expensive homes and other ill-gotten gains,” said.

When asked about concerns that Russia might see the latest measures not as a proxy war, but as a more direct confrontation with the United States and its allies in Europe, the president replied: “We are ready to do anything they. “

However, he denied the growing claim by Russian officials and state media that Moscow was fighting across the West. “We are not attacking Russia. We are helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression. “said Biden.

Of the $ 33 billion, $ 20 billion will go to direct military aid, meaning Ukraine will receive military aid from the US alone, not counting the rest of NATO — equivalent to 60% of Russia’s budget.

Just one fact that reflects the size of U.S. aid to Ukraine: Biden ensured that the United States had already supplied that country with 10 anti-tank weapon systems for every tank Russia sent to that country.

The remaining aid will be economic aid to kyiv and developing countries hit by the closure of food exports of Russia and Ukraine, which, according to UN estimates, could leave 30 million people without enough food.

The initiative of requesting massive numbers from Congress was dangerous for Biden, during inflation in excess of 7.6% per year – unusual by US standards – and as revealed that the country’s economy slowed to only 1.4% growth in the first quarter, due to the impact of the Omicron variant, inflation and war in Ukraine.

The Americans began to see that there was some resentment at the extension of the war that could take longer than initially expected. According to a poll last week by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the desire of Americans to engage in war has decreased.

32% of those consulted say that The United States must play a big role in the conflict, down from 40% last month. An additional 49% say Washington should have fewer stakes.

These data are important in an election year, where the pocket can break any variable. In November there will be legislative elections and Democrats may lose control of Congress.

however, Biden seems determined to fight Putin beyond internal consequences because, along with its allies, it considers that stopping Russia is a mission for global stability.

In recent times the Kremlin’s threatening tone has grown and warned of the possibility of a nuclear war. When asked about it, Biden said he considered it “a sign of desperation” and warned that “no one should make idle comments about the use of nuclear weapons or the possibility of using them. Irresponsible. “

Consistent with military aid, Biden seeks to continue to tighten pressure on Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, with confiscation procedures allowing the oligarchs’ assets to be sold to “solve the damage caused by Russia.” In a way, he wants Americans to see that the money comes not only from the U.S. Treasury’s coffers, but also from Putin’s billionaire allies.

Until now, the EU allies blocked more than $ 30 billion in Russian assets, including nearly $ 7 billion in luxury assets owned by oligarchs, such as yachts, works of art, real estate and helicopters, the White House said in a statement.

One of the latest seized was a $ 90 million superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Victor Vekselberg.

This measure could cause controversy because there is no process proving that the assets of Russian oligarchs were harvested in illicit activities or that they were used to commit crimes. The proposal, despite Biden’s intentions, could be questioned in the Supreme Court, experts say, as it would give the Executive the power to confiscate assets without interfering with justice.

Beyond these considerations, Biden will see his aid package pass Congress because Democrats, and the Republican leadership in general, are in favor of supporting kyiv.