War in Ukraine, Biden pays salaries to Kiev soldiers –

Alessandra Zavatta

April 25, 2024

The United States will pay the salaries of Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines once morest Russia. And they will also pay the salaries of public employees and the pensions of those who have retired from work. Eight of the $60.7 billion in the “aid package” for Kiev is earmarked for non-military assistance. The state apparatus has almost failed. It has no more money and, without money, the armed forces stop, as do public offices, healthcare, transport and what little remains of the “public machine”. US President Joe Biden yesterday signed a 95 billion dollar aid package, following the green light from the House of Representatives and the Senate, to support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. “If Putin triumphs in Ukraine, the next move for Russian forces might very well be a direct attack once morest a NATO ally,” Biden said. “And if Putin attacked a country of the Alliance as he is doing now with Ukraine, we would have no choice but to go to his aid,” warned the head of the White House, underlining that US support is crucial to prevent a future “war in Europe”.

For this reason, twenty-three billion will be allocated to replace the Ukrainian weapons warehouses emptied by two years of conflict. Two billion 742 million were made available for the supply of missiles alone. The “Biden Administration last month secretly sent Atacms long-range missiles to Ukraine, with a range of 320 kilometers”, reported “Politico”, also making it known that it is the first time that Washington, in the more than two years of war, accepted Kiev’s requests. “Ukrainian forces have already used this weapon twice, striking deep behind Russian lines.” Another five billion and 612 million were reserved for the purchase of ammunition. The shortage of bullets has been highlighted several times by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: “Without US aid we will lose the war.” The appeal was accepted by Congress, which also allocated eleven billion for the training of Kiev’s armed forces by American instructors and to strengthen collaboration in terms of military intelligence. Fourteen billion will instead be used to purchase defense systems directly from Pentagon contractors. And then those eight billion for salaries and pensions which will serve to avoid stopping the state apparatus and, at the same time, to avoid internal revolts.

“This is the extraordinary support we need to maintain financial stability and prevail,” Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko relaunched on the social network “X”. “The current cooperation between Ukraine and the United States is strengthening both our nations, our partners and the whole world that wants to live by the rules rather than in conditions of violence and terror,” Zelensky added. The provision signed by President Biden also includes aid for Israel: 4.4 billion to replace American supplies to Tel Aviv which ran out following the response to Iran’s attack; four more to supply the Iron Dome with missiles; one billion and 200 million for the Iron Beam and three billion and 500 million for the purchase of armaments. More than five billion will instead be spent on food, clothing and medicines to be delivered to the Palestinians. “My commitment to Israel is ironclad: I want to make sure it has what it needs to defend itself from Iran and terrorists,” added the US president. “In the same way, the humanitarian assistance we are sending to the population of Gaza who is struggling with the consequences of this war started by Hamas is increasing.” Aid also to US allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Taiwan on the front line. With eight billion to counter Chinese espionage activities, 3.3 billion to repair submarines and two to modernize the army.