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U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky get astatine a associated property convention aft their gathering astatine nan White House successful Washington, D.C., successful December. On Wednesday, nan U.S. Defense Department unveiled a news package of weaponry for Ukraine. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
April 25 (UPI) -- Shortly aft President Joe Biden signed his nationalist information supplemental measure into law, nan Pentagon announced a subject package worthy $1 cardinal for Ukraine, arsenic nan United States rushes to nonstop caller weaponry to nan besieged state pursuing months of delays.
The Department of Defense described nan package arsenic "significant," and astatine a $1 cardinal it is overmuch much costly than astir erstwhile weapons allotments.
"This package will surge munitions, weapons and instrumentality guardant to support Ukraine's expertise to take sides its frontlines, protect its cities and antagonistic Russia's continued attacks," nan Pentagon said successful a statement.
The announcement comes pursuing months of inaction and Republican stonewalling connected nan White House's efforts to get Congress to o.k. caller costs for Ukraine.
Biden had first called connected lawmakers successful August to walk supplemental backing for Ukraine, but Republicans sought to usage nan business to discuss much money for separator information and stricter migration policies, each while fissures developed successful nan House GOP complete support of Kyiv.
In February, nan Senate passed its ain type of nan bill, which was met by staunch guidance successful nan House from far-right Republicans loyal to erstwhile President Donald Trump, who voiced guidance to nan bill.
Under mounting pressure, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Ky., yet brought nan measure to nan House floor, contempt members of his ain statement calling for his ouster for doing so. With Democratic help, nan measure passed past week.
Senate past passed its type of it Tuesday night, and Biden signed it into rule Wednesday
During nan signing ceremony, Biden remarked connected nan delays, stating, "For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been moving retired of artillery shells and ammunition."
MAGA is nan acronym for nan far-right Make America Great Again nativist governmental movement, made celebrated by Trump.
Biden besides said a caller U.S. package of weaponry would beryllium announced successful nan adjacent fewer hours, calling it "literally an investment, not only successful Ukraine's information but successful Europe's security, successful our our security."
"We're sending Ukraine instrumentality from our ain stockpiles, and past we'll replenish those stockpiles pinch caller products made by American companies present successful America: Patriot missiles made successful Arizona, Javelins made successful Alabama, artillery shells made successful Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas," he said.
"In different words, we're helping Ukraine while astatine nan aforesaid clip investing successful our ain business base, strengthening our ain nationalist information and supporting jobs successful astir 40 states each crossed America."
The package announced Wednesday is nan 56th for Ukraine from Pentagon inventories since August of 2021, and completed nether nan Presidential Drawdown Authority.
It includes aerial defense missiles, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, precision aerial munitions and a ample assortment of ammunition and rounds, including for nan High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which person proved effect successful nan theater.
"We are sending a powerful connection coming astir nan powerfulness of American activity arsenic we support Ukraine's conflict against Russian aggression," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said successful a statement.
"The United States will proceed to activity pinch nan conjugation of much than 50 countries we person assembled to supply captious support for Ukraine's forces."
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine connected Wednesday thanked Biden, Congress and Americans for supporting its defense against Russia's invasion.
"The six-month way is now over," he said successful his nightly address to nan nation.
"I americium grateful to President Biden, nan U.S. Congress and each Americans who recognize nan request to return nan upwind retired of Putin's sails, not to taxable to him, arsenic only past will location genuinely beryllium less threats to freedom."
