Democrats in the House of Representatives are planning to expedite a massive bill that would dramatically increase U.S. security assistance to Ukraine and lay the groundwork for substantial new sanctions on Russia - hastening a war-friendly posture without opportunity for dissent as concerns over a military invasion abound.
The situation in Ukraine has escalated in recent days, with more than 100,000 Russian troops reportedly stationed along the Ukrainian border, while Western leaders seek to create a unified front to deter what they fear is a Russian invasion.
The legislation would send $500 million from the Foreign Military Financing program to Ukraine for 2022.
The legislation would also give Ukraine priority for excess defense equipment transfer and funds to counter Russian disinformation through programs like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
It would further aim to bolster Ukraine's cyber defense and direct the president to consider imposing sanctions on Russia in the event of a cyber attack on Ukraine.
Earlier this month in the House, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Guaranteeing Ukrainian Autonomy by Reinforcing its Defense Act, a companion bill to a measure sponsored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch, R-Idaho.
The bill would give Ukraine $450 million from the State Department's FMF account and impose sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 project immediately, without waiting for an escalation as in the Democrats' bill.
https://theintercept.com/2022/01/25/ukraine-defense-bill-democrats/
No comments:
Post a Comment