Joe Biden seeks US$13 billion more for Ukraine defence as Republicans protest
- US president’s request could face opposition in Congress, where some Republicans want to pare back Ukraine assistance
- The United States is considered Ukraine’s most important ally its defensive struggle against the Russian invasion
US President Joe Biden set up a clash with House Republicans by asking lawmakers to approve billions more dollars for Ukraine’s defence, further straining the ability of Congress to avoid a government shutdown October 1.
The White House sees the US$13 billion in funding for Ukraine war costs, which came in a US$40 billion supplemental spending request, as critical to sustaining the war effort against Russia as the conflict enters a more intense phase. But Republican opposition to the aid has grown as conservatives have railed against US involvement in the war.
“The answer needs to be NO!,” Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado said on X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter. “We’ve done more than enough and none of this money is even being audited.”
The package designates US$24 billion for Ukraine and related international emergencies, including US$9.5 billion to send military equipment to Kyiv and to replenish Defence Department stocks, according to a White House fact sheet.
Continued military, intelligence and other support would cost another US$3.6 billion while US$11 billion is set aside for economic, humanitarian and development aid. The additional US$8.5 billion economic and humanitarian request includes US$200 million in aid to African counties besieged by Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries.