On Wednesday, American lawmakers passed more than US$40 billion worth of aid for Ukraine across party lines, which is about US$7 billion more than Biden originally proposed. The aid includes direct assistance to Ukraine’s military, as well as economic assistance for the country.
As that was happening in Congress, Biden met with leaders from Finland and Sweden at the White House, offering his “strong support” for their bid to join NATO. The move will strengthen NATO in northern Europe, including along Finland’s border with Russia.
Key comments:
“By passing this emergency aid, the Senate can now say to the Ukrainian people: ‘Help is on the way – real help, significant help,’” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We Americans – all of us, Democrat and Republican – cannot afford to stick our heads in the sand while Vladimir Putin continues his vicious belligerence against the Ukrainian people.”
“They meet every NATO requirement and then some,” Biden told reporters, standing alongside the two Nordic leaders. “Having two new NATO members in the high north will enhance the security of our alliances and deepen our security cooperation across the board.”
