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President Joe Biden signed into law Monday a bill to accelerate the delivery of military aid to Ukraine, with the loan of weaponry to that country to counter the Russian invasion.
Biden signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, coinciding with the anniversary of the Nazi defeat and the Capitulation of the Third Reich in 1945.
That legislation is based on an American program created during that world war to help European allies defend themselves against Adolf Hitler’s forces and will now serve to speed up the delivery of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine by removing bureaucratic hurdles.
Prior to Biden’s signature, the bill was approved by almost all lawmakers in the U.S. Congress, with only ten Republicans in the lower house voting against it.
The President said that this initiative is an important tool to help Ukrainians in the fight to defend their country and democracy from “the brutal war” launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The President mentioned the anniversary of the defeat of fascism and recalled that this Monday also marks Europe Day, which marks the signing in 1950 of the Schuman Declaration, which opened the door to the European Coal and Steel Community, the seed of the European Union (EU).
Biden emphasized cooperation among EU countries in supporting Ukraine and upholding democracy, human rights, and the peaceful resolution of disagreements.
The signing comes as the Biden Administration has nearly exhausted $13.6 billion in military assistance to Ukraine approved by Congress last March.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday that they estimate that by the third week of May that aid will be gone.
As part of that assistance, Biden announced last Friday a $150 million package to deliver arms, ammunition, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
With the imminent end of the funds authorized by Congress, Biden has asked lawmakers to green-light an additional $33 billion for Ukraine.
