A six-month epic that unfolded like a historical tragedy almost ended in disaster, yet concluded positively for Kyiv. It was announced yesterday that the allocation of $61 billion to support Ukraine has taken place. Let’s explore together the changes expected as a result of this historic event.
Firstly, it should be noted that the bill must first be approved by the Senate, but no problems are expected there, as the majority of lawmakers are supporters of Ukraine and back Biden’s actions. Secondly, once approved by the Senate, the document will go to the President of the USA for his signature. Both procedures are expected to be completed by Monday or Tuesday.
Why This Is So Important
The bill voted on Saturday was comprehensive. It included providing military aid to other countries. The sizes of the aid are as follows:
- Ukraine – $61 billion;
- Israel – $26 billion (of which $1 billion is for humanitarian needs);
- Indo-Pacific region – $8.12 billion.
But the document is not only about financial aspects. It also includes possibilities for new restrictions concerning a number of aggressor countries:
- China;
- Russia;
- Iran.
Military experts emphasize: that this event is incredibly important for the front where Ukrainian soldiers often defended their country literally with their bodies due to the lack of weapons.
But the main thing is the strategic effect, which will be reflected in the following two factors:
- Kyiv adopted a new version of the mobilization law, which will allow strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine and providing them with everything necessary for effective operation. This will become a driving force for Ukraine’s actions over the next year.
- In the summer, the transfer of F-16 fighters is planned, as the crews for them are fully ready. This will be a key moment because Russia’s air superiority has been an ace up the Russian army’s sleeve for over 2 years. The presence of these aircraft in the Ukrainian Armed Forces will reduce the frequency of using guided aerial bombs at the front.
Against the background of the summer offensive, which Russia is actively preparing, these two factors will prevent the Kremlin’s plans to occupy new Ukrainian territories.
Another Important News
But that’s not all. In addition to allocating military aid, another important event took place, which remained somewhat in the shadows. It concerns the approval by Congress of a bill related to the confiscation of Russian assets, which will be directed towards the restoration of Ukraine. The amount is $6 billion. This is what was kept in US banks and was frozen immediately after the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
It should be noted that among all assets, this is a relatively small part, as the maximum falls on European countries – Germany, France, and Belgium – amounting to $300 billion.
The adoption of this law will provide a legal basis for the transfer of Russian state assets to Kyiv. The funds will be directed towards the recovery of Ukraine’s economy and compensation for the damages caused by the aggressor country.
The President of the USA has the authority for confiscation, and after his signature, they will be transferred to two funds:
- Compensation Fund;
- Ukraine Support Fund.
This bill is not yet in effect, as it must first go through a vote in the Senate, just as with the aid to Ukraine. But all forecasts are clear: the majority will undoubtedly support this initiative.
One more nuance: even if Trump were to assume the presidency of the USA and wanted to stop this process, he would not be able to unfreeze the Russian assets. The legislative basis for this is ready. The only basis for unfreezing assets in the future would be the complete withdrawal of troops from all occupied territories and the restoration of Ukraine’s borders to their 1991 status.
Therefore, last Saturday’s vote is the most important event of the past year that could truly change the course of this war.
