Biden requests $37 billion for Ukraine from lame-duck congress.

 

US troops in Poland. CNBC/Getty.

Joe Biden has requested $37 billion for Ukraine from a lame-duck congress. CNBC. The money includes $21.7 billion in military support, $14.5 billion for government operations and humanitarian aid, $626 million for energy assistance and $900 for healthcare. Three quarters of the $54 billion the USA has already given Ukraine has been spent and the rest will be used soon. Republicans, who appear to have taken the house, have been less willing to give Ukraine blank checks so any legislation may have to be made before they take power. 

My Comment:

It is no surprise that Biden waited until after the election to announce this as it would have almost certainly changed some votes if Republicans had made an issue out of it. Much like the student loan debt forgiveness, Biden played his voters here and I am guessing they won't even remember it when 2024 happens. 

I have been on record as being opposed to all aid to Ukraine. I don't think that they are a critical interest for the United States. I personally would have us spend this money on almost anything else. Even putting it into one giant pile and lighting it on fire would be a better use of this money. 

All this money will do is prolong the war. As Russia is getting ready for a major offensive, I believe that Ukraine has reached as far as they are going to go in their offensive. Russia has fully mobilized for war now and I think that they will have success in their winter offensive. Sending Ukraine billions of dollars may blunt this offensive but it won't win the war for Ukraine. Indeed, Ukraine is in such a mess right now $37 billion in aid isn't even close to being enough. I am guessing right after this money is approved, Ukraine will just be asking for them again. 

If the Ukrainians knew that they weren't going to get unlimited support they would be more likely to actually negotiate with Russia. Given that seems to be the direction that the White House is going anyways I don't really understand why they would be doing this. But I don't think anyone really understands Biden's foreign policy, including Biden himself. 

I do think that the people in America are getting tired of sending money to Ukraine. We are already seeing some politicians speaking out about this massive amount of money on Ukraine and I think that is going to continue. People see how bad things are going and are going to ask why this money is going to Ukraine and not any of the other millions of things you could spend that money on. I know that this money would be enough to pay for student debt forgiveness that Biden wanted, but that's not going to happen, even though that's not something I approve of anyways. But the Democrats have to be angry about that. 

Unfortunately I think that this funding will pass. The Democrats do not seem to be opposed to this funding at all and for the moment they control congress. And it's not like all Republicans are on board with cutting off aid to Ukraine, there are plenty that are in love of spending American's money. I do think the tide is turning but it's not going to be changed for some time.