Congress must pass supplemental funding to Kiev 'right away': Blinken

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Aug 2023 22:59

$24 billion of it are intended for additional assistance for Ukraine.

Members of the US Army's 1st Armoured Battalion of the 9th Regiment, 1st Division from Fort Hood in Texas prepare to unload Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles from rail cars as they arrive at the Pabrade railway station some 50 km (31 miles) north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis, File)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged on Tuesday for Congress to pass a supplemental for additional assistance for Ukraine.

"I urge Congress to pass this legislation funding, the supplemental funding... right away," Blinken said.

This comes after the White House Office of Management and Budget released a supplemental funding request to Congress on Thursday in the amount of $40 billion.

$24 billion of it are intended for additional assistance for Ukraine.

The request also includes assistance for disaster relief along with other World Bank programs.

Ukraine has been the recipient of substantial financial support from its allies following Russia's military operation in February 2022.

The United States alone has contributed over $100 billion in military, economic, and humanitarian supplies to the country.

Meanwhile, the majority of Americans believe the US has supported Ukraine in its continuing struggle with Russia sufficiently and would argue against allocating extra funds for the nation, according to a recent poll conducted by pollster Social Science-Research Solutions (SSRS) and commissioned by CNN.

On August 11, President Joe Biden requested Congress to approve a $40 billion White House budget for 2024, over half of which are designated to Ukraine while just $12 billion will be spent to support disaster relief efforts in the US.

In an attempt to downplay the amount requested for Ukraine, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said last Thursday that the American people understand why Biden requested billions more in supplies for Ukraine, despite recent polls showing declining support for US funding for Kiev.