US adopts defense budget: Ukraine to receive more than Biden request
The defense budget bill for the 2023 fiscal year for $858 billion was agreed upon by the committees of both houses of the US Congress. This is 45 billion more than President Joe Biden requested.
The decision is discussed in the statement of the Committee. It is emphasized that the budget also includes the following:
- more than $6 billion to contain russia in the area of operations of the European Command;
- $225 million for security cooperation in the Baltic States.
The document also notes that US lawmakers have agreed to provide Ukraine with at least $800 million in security assistance next year.
Funds will be allocated within the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to promote the security of Ukraine. $500 million more than previously requested by Biden is provided for.
In addition, the document extends the ban on military cooperation with russia for five years. And it also has a clause on the need to increase energy sustainability to reduce dependence on russian fuel.
The decision also includes the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act, which establishes it as the policy of the United States to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence and information related to war crimes and other atrocities committed by russia. The US will use it in appropriate courts and tribunals to prosecute those responsible for the war crimes committed against Ukrainians.
To recap, at the end of November, it became known that the USA would provide Ukraine with additional assistance in the field of security for $400 million. The decision came amid another massive missile strike on Ukraine by russia.
"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 506(a)(1) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to $400 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown," the statement said.
