President Joe Biden Seeks Additional $33 Billion in Military, Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine, Proposes Legislation To Seize Russian Oligarchs' Assets

The Biden administration is requesting $33 billion in funds from Congress to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more than double the $14 billion already approved.

The funds will endure until the end of the fiscal year on September 30, giving Ukraine a more stable assurance of support as the battle continues. President Biden asked Congress to accept his request for security aid as soon as possible on Thursday, saying it came at a critical time for Ukraine's struggle against the Russian incursion.

Biden Asks Congress For $33 Billion in Ukraine Aid

After Russia threatened to stop natural gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria, Biden said the US was working with Korea, Japan, Qatar, and others to help meet those nations' energy import needs. He said that Poland has considerable reserves and that, if necessary, US natural gas exports to Japan and other countries will be diverted to Bulgaria.

He also expressed alarm about recent Russian remarks portraying the fight as one between NATO, the United States, and Russia. According to authorities, the majority of the request is for military and security assistance, totaling $20 billion, to send weapons to Ukraine, refill US arms stocks, and assist other nations in transitioning away from reliance on Russian armaments.

An extra $8.5 billion in economic aid to the Ukrainian government has been asked for, as well as $3 billion in humanitarian and food security funds, including help for Ukrainian refugees and nations that are taking them in, NPR reported.

On Thursday, Biden slammed the language, saying, "No one should be making ideal statements about the use of nuclear weapons," dismissing Russia's criticism of the West's participation in the crisis. "It shows Russia's desperation over their abject failure" to quickly seize Ukraine, Biden added.

POTUS Wants To Seize Russian Oligarchs' Assets in US

One day after Russia turned off gas to Poland and Bulgaria, President Trump stated the US was working with Japan and other partners to offer energy assistance to those nations. By delaying key energy exports, Russia is attempting to intimidate and blackmail Europe, according to Biden.

The extra Ukrainian help was included in a supplementary budget request to Congress that also included a request for $22.5 billion in new emergency money to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The additional Ukrainian assistance was included in a supplemental budget proposal to Congress, which also included a request for $22.5 billion in new emergency funding to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, as per Newsweek via MSN.

High-thermal blankets, medical supplies, emergency health kits, safe drinking water, direct food aid such as wheat and flour, job training, trauma-informed mental health services, and school financing are all part of the humanitarian help. According to Biden, the food money will help to reduce rising expenses in the United States. Ukraine is a major producer of wheat and sunflowers. Because of the conflict, the supply chain has been disrupted, resulting in a price hike.

Biden also wants to sell the luxurious boats and sumptuous homes confiscated from Russian oligarchs by the US government and give the proceeds to Ukraine to aid in the battle against Vladimir Putin's soldiers. On Thursday, the president requested that Congress increase his presidential powers to enable him to do precisely that.

Biden also requested Congress for billions of dollars in more funding to support the Ukrainian military and offer humanitarian aid to the country's displaced people. He also asked lawmakers to make it a crime to knowingly or intentionally possess proceeds directly obtained from corrupt dealings with the Russian government, to double the statute of limitations for foreign money laundering offenses to ten years, and to broaden the definition of "racketeering" in US law to include efforts to evade sanctions, according to Daily Mail.