Harris pledges $1.5 billion in US aid for Ukraine
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US Vice President Kamala Harris details that the aid package includes $500 million in new energy assistance funding.
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Vice President Kamala Harris speaking at a news conference in 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)
US Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Saturday that over $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, focusing on its energy sector and humanitarian assistance, more than two years after the onset of the war in Ukraine.
At a two-day summit in Switzerland's Burgenstock mountain resort, Harris detailed that the aid package includes $500 million in new energy assistance funding. Additionally, $324 million in previously allocated USAID funds will be redirected to meet urgent energy needs.
"This funding will repair energy infrastructure damaged in the war, expand power generation, encourage private sector investment, and protect energy infrastructure," Harris said in a statement.
"These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine's resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraine's energy system," Harris added.
The new aid package from USAID and the State Department reportedly includes over $379 million in humanitarian assistance. This funding aims to "help address urgent needs of refugees, internally displaced persons, and conflict-affected communities impacted by Russia's brutal war against the Ukrainian people," Harris claimed.
She added that, with the backing of Congress, the State Department will allocate an additional $300 million for Ukrainian civilian security assistance.
"This support will help them safely operate on the front lines of the war to defend Ukraine's territory, rescue civilians targeted by the Kremlin's attacks, protect critical infrastructure and investigate the over 120,000 registered cases of war crimes and other atrocities," Harris said.
US Lawmakers Halt Funds for Gaza Rebuilding
The US House of Representatives passed on June 12 an amendment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, prohibiting the Pentagon from using its increasing budget for reconstruction efforts in war-torn Gaza.
"None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available to the Secretary of Defense for fiscal year 2025 may be made available to build in or rebuild the Gaza Strip on or after the date of the enactment of this Act," the amendment said.
The provision, introduced by Republican lawmakers Brian Mast, Claudia Tenney, and Eli Crane, faced opposition from House Democrats. However, the Democrats did not request a recorded vote, allowing the amendment to pass with a simple voice vote.
"[The Palestinians] are absolutely at war with one of our major and best allies anywhere across the globe," Mast stated during Wednesday’s session.
He added that it is "nonsensical" to propose that the US should allocate part of its nearly $1 trillion defense budget to rebuild a region destroyed by US-made weapons, with direct support from the Pentagon.
"The House advancing anti-Palestinian amendments into legislation at this stage reaffirms that many in Congress do not value the lives of their Palestinian constituents," Mohammed Khader, a policy manager at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, told journalists.
"Blocking funds to rebuild Gaza while actively providing taxpayer dollars, weapons, and intelligence to destroy Gaza and Palestinian society reaffirms that lawmakers intend for the US to be an active participant in Israel’s atrocities," he stressed.
It is worth noting that the US has sent hundreds of arms shipments to "Israel" and consistently provided political backing for Israeli authorities amid its conflict in Gaza, which has entered its 253rd day.
US lawmakers have even threatened to sanction International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and cut funding for UN agencies due to their support for ending the brutal Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
