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Biden's $33b aid call for Ukraine spurs reaction

By HENG WEILI in New York | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2022-04-29 08:45

US President Joe Biden is seeking the biggest package yet of military and other aid to Ukraine, with a request to Congress on Thursday to send the Eastern European nation $33 billion, raising the stakes in its conflict with Russia.

The latest proposal, which includes more than $20 billion for weapons, ammunition and other military assistance, drew some heated responses on social media.

The package also includes $8.5 billion in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government and $3 billion in humanitarian aid. It is intended to cover the war effort through September, the end of the fiscal year.

"We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom," Biden said at the White House after signing the request. "The cost of this fight — it's not cheap — but caving to aggression is going to be more costly."

The $20 billion in US military assistance is about a third of Russia's defense budget last year.

American military aid to Ukraine has topped $3 billion since Russia launched what it calls a special military operation on Feb 24 to demilitarize Ukraine and protect it from fascists.

If the latest White House package is approved, overall aid to Ukraine will reach $46.6 billion.

"There will be bicameral, bipartisan talks on the supplemental request. Language must also be drafted," a House Democratic aide told CNN. "It is also unresolved which chamber will work to advance the supplemental first. This will not be an instant process."

So far, aid packages for Ukraine have been widely supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Washington.

In support of the proposal, US Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat tweeted: "President Biden's $33 billion Ukraine aid request is another step — by no means the last — in keeping faith & fulfilling our commitments. Congress must put its money where its mouth is — matching rhetoric with real action."

US Senator John Thune, the No 2 GOP leader in the chamber, said that while Republicans are committed to helping Ukraine, "It's a pretty eye-popping number."

But the news generated some vociferous reaction elsewhere Thursday.

"Any elected official voting to send 33 billion to Ukraine is showing that they don't respect the American ppl enough to prioritize them or respect them enough to be honest about how we are sleep [walking] to WW3 & consolidating Eurasia economically against the US dollar," tweeted Joe Kent, a Republican candidate for Congress in Washington state.

"Now $33 billion more to fuel the war in Ukraine. Given the predictions/hopes of US officials that this will last years, not months, it's hard to see any end to this cash drain to Raytheon and friends," wrote journalist Glenn Greenwald on Twitter. "And that's all independent of the escalation risks. Which Americans benefit?"

"I've got veterans lined up outside my food bank waiting for peanut butter right now and y'all wanna send $33 BILLION more to Zelenskyy," tweeted Lavern Spicer, a Republican congressional candidate in Florida.

"Forget about cancelling student debt, Biden wants $33 Billion more to fund a NATO war against Russia," educator Manolo De Los Santos tweeted.

Ukraine is not a member of NATO.

"The economy just contracted by almost 2%, inflation is at a 40 year high and the border is wide open. What did Biden do today to address these issues? He is demanding congress provide UKRAINE an additional $33 billion of your tax dollars," tweeted author George Papadopoulos, a former adviser to Donald Trump.

"From one point of view, the Russian action in Ukraine represents a decisive turn away from the hostile West to the more dynamic East and the Global South," wrote John V. Walsh, until recently a professor of physiology and neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, on antiwar.com Thursday.

"This follows decades of importuning the West for a peaceful relationship since the Cold War's end. As Russia makes its Pivot to the East, it is doing its best to ensure that its Western border with Ukraine is secured.

"We in the West hear that Russia is ‘isolated in the world' as a result of the crisis in Ukraine," he wrote. "If one is speaking about the Eurovassal states and the Anglosphere, that is true. But considering humanity as a whole and among the rising economies of the world, it is the US that stands isolated.

"It appears that the grand scheme of US global hegemony to be brought about by the US move to WWII Redux, both Cold and Hot, has hit a mighty snag," Walsh wrote.

Reuters contributed to this story.

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