Zelenskyy thanked the US for $33 billion but stressed that Russia is harming the entire world
Denys Karlovskyi – Thursday, 28 April 2022, 22:53
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine thanked the US government for its decision to approve another $33 billion in aid for Ukraine but stressed that the scale of losses inflicted by Russia onto the entire world will be even greater.
Source: President Zelenskyy’s video address
According to Zelenskyy: "Today we have important news for our country, for our defence.
First of all, the US have prepared a new aid package for Ukraine worth $33 billion. In particular, over $20 billion can be used for military aid. Over $8 billion are allocated for economic aid. Another $3 billion will be used to provide humanitarian aid.
This is a very important step for the United States. And I am grateful for it to the American people and personally to President Biden. I hope that the Congress will quickly support this request for help for our country. President Biden rightly said today that this measure is not cheap. But the negative consequences for the whole world of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and against democracy are so far-reaching that this support from the United States is vital. Together, we can certainly stop Russia’s aggression and confidently defend freedom in Europe."
Details: Ukraine’s President added that Ukraine and its partners are looking into the mechanisms for confiscating the frozen assets of Russian institutions and authorities. The funds confiscated from Russians will be directed to Ukraine’s accounts for post-war reconstruction.
Background:
- US President Joe Biden will ask Congress to provide $33 billion in aid to Ukraine, more than $20 billion of which will be used to purchase weapons. In addition, the United States wants to create a legal mechanism for confiscating the frozen assets of sanctioned Russians to finance aid to Ukraine.
- US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the United States wants to transfer frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia to Ukraine.
- On 27 April the US Congress passed a framework bill that would create more detailed mechanisms for confiscating Russian property and finances to help fund Ukraine’s development.
