# Biden unveils $800 million in new Ukraine military aid, to ask Congress for more
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-04-21
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Biden pledges $800 million in military aid for Ukraine
Meta Description: President Joe Biden announced $800 million in new weaponry for Ukraine to combat Russian aggression, with a request for additional funding from Congress.
URL: https://financedigest.com/biden-unveils-800-million-in-new-ukraine-military-aid-to-ask-congress-for-morehtml

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By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden pledged $800 million in more weaponry for Ukraine on Thursday and said he would ask Congress for more money to help bolster support for the Ukrainian military as it [faces a fresh onslaught by Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/gold-investors-face-bind-over-bars-from-tarnished-russia.html "Gold investors face bind over bars from tarnished Russia") on its eastern flank.

Addressing Americans from the White House’s Roosevelt Room, [Biden pledged to send heavy artillery](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-johnson-trudeau-pledge-artillery-for-ukraine-in-battle-against-russia.html "Biden, Johnson, Trudeau pledge artillery for Ukraine in battle against Russia"), dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as tactical drones, as he called on Congress for supplemental funding to provide additional aid for Kyiv.

Biden also [announced $500 million](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-announces-205-million-pound-auction-for-renewable-power-projects.html "Britain announces 205 million pound auction for renewable power projects") in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government as it battles to save the lives of people under siege by Russian forces.

We’re in a critical window now of [time where they’re going to set](https://www.financedigest.com/oneweb-eutelsat-set-for-secondary-london-listing-the-times.html "OneWeb-Eutelsat set for secondary London listing – The Times") the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said, referring to Russia’s tactical shift to the east. The United States and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide [Ukraine with the equipment and weapons](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says") it needs.

Biden said the new assistance will expend most of the remaining funds available for this purpose and that he will make a supplemental [funding request to Congress next week](https://www.financedigest.com/rate-rise-fears-prompt-third-week-of-global-equity-funds-outflows.html "Rate rise fears prompt third week of global equity funds outflows"). He said the amount is being discussed.

“That’s being decided now. I’m asking the Defense Department to put together a proposal,” he said.

The U.S. House of Representatives will consider the additional aid for Ukraine as [soon as next week](https://www.financedigest.com/meta-plans-to-cut-thousands-of-jobs-as-soon-as-this-week-bloomberg-news.html "Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as soon as this week – Bloomberg News"), Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters. There is strong [support among Democrats and Republicans for assisting Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/natos-support-for-ukraine-is-unbreakable-spains-pm-sanchez-says.html "NATO’s support for Ukraine is unbreakable, Spain’s PM Sanchez says").

The Pentagon said that the new package would include 75 155mm long-range howitzers, 72 tactical vehicles to tow them, and more than 100 Phoenix Ghost drones.

Biden spoke after face-to-face [talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-cineworld-to-not-sell-assets-individually-denies-talks-with-amc.html "UK’s Cineworld to not sell assets individually, denies talks with AMC") Shmyhal, who is in Washington for a variety of meetings.

The president [announced plans](https://www.financedigest.com/mastek-announces-multi-million-pound-investment-plan-uk.html "Mastek announces multi-million-pound IT investment plan for UK") to ban Russian-affiliated ships from docking at U.S. ports, as previously [reported by Reuters](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies"), further ratcheting up pressure on Moscow. A senior administration official said the move was aimed at further [isolating Russia](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-action-wanes-at-u-n-to-isolate-russia-almost-six-months-into-ukraine-war.html "Analysis: Action wanes at U.N. to isolate Russia almost six months into Ukraine war").

Biden also said his administration will allow Ukrainians fleeing [Russia’s invasion of their home country to come to the United States temporarily](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-kazakh-mcdonalds-shut-outlets-temporarily-after-halting-supplies-from-russia-sources.html "Exclusive-Kazakh McDonald’s shut outlets temporarily after halting supplies from Russia – sources") if they have American sponsors, a move that could affect thousands of refugees.

The new arms package is the same size as an $800 [million one announced](https://www.financedigest.com/kaspersky-lab-announces-4-revenue-growth-726-million-2018.html "Kaspersky Lab announces 4% revenue growth to 6 million in 2018") last week

Biden said the new weapons are needed as Ukraine battles a major offensive from [Russia in the east](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-sharply-scales-back-far-east-war-games-with-china.html "Russia sharply scales back Far East war games with China"), where the flatter terrain requires a different set of weaponry.

On Wednesday, he convened U.S. military [leaders in an annual White House gathering](https://www.financedigest.com/world-leaders-gather-in-london-for-king-charles-coronation.html "World leaders gather in London for King Charles’ coronation") that took on special significance as the war enters a risky new phase.

Russia has said it has entered a new [stage of its operation](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-predictions-operational-resilience-takes-center-stage.html "2021 Predictions: Operational Resilience Takes Center Stage") and is methodically seeking to “liberate” the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Western allies anticipate Russia’s campaign could [last many months](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-trends-to-look-out-for-during-the-last-six-months-of-2019.html "Fintech trends to look out for during the last six months of 2019"), grind to a stalemate and test the battlefield capabilities of Ukrainian fighters.

Biden disputed Russian claims of control of the embattled city of Mariupol, [saying that “there’s no evidence that Mariupol has completely fallen.” He added that Russia “should allow](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-may-be-responsible-for-allowing-louboutin-knock-off-ads-eu-court-says.html "Amazon may be responsible for allowing Louboutin knock-off ads, EU court says") humanitarian corridors to let people at that steel mill and other places (that) are buried under rubble to get out.

Russia [says it launched what it calls a “special military operation”](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-sets-5g-goal-says-no-magic-number-of-operators.html "Britain sets 5G goal, says no ‘magic number’ of operators") on Feb. 24 to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject that as a false pretext.

U.S. forces are not [fighting in Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/fighting-traps-civilians-in-ukraine-plant-as-putin-urges-defenders-to-disarm.html "Fighting traps civilians in Ukraine plant as Putin urges defenders to disarm") but are indirectly engaged, arming, training and financing its forces.

The U.S. aid [announced last week included artillery systems](https://www.financedigest.com/dassault-systemes-targets-doubling-of-earnings-per-share-by-2028-announces-new-ceo.html "Dassault Systemes targets doubling of earnings per share by 2028, announces new CEO"), artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers and unmanned coastal defense boats, broadening the scope of materiel sent to Kyiv to include new types of heavy equipment.

Adding this week’s package brings total U.S. military aid to [Ukraine since](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war") Russia invaded to well over $3 billion.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Patricia Zengerle and Idrees Ali; Editing by Robert Birsel, Chizu Nomiyama, Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis)


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