In for the long haul: Biden’s $33 billion request foreshadows extended war in Ukraine

‘CRUCIAL WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD’: In a tacit recognition that despite the failures of the Russian military so far the war in Ukraine will likely continue for months, President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $33 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine to keep weapons flowing and provide humanitarian assistance to the millions of suffering civilians.

“This assistance would provide even more artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, anti-air capabilities that have been used so effectively thus far on the battlefield by the Ukrainian warriors,” Biden said. “This so-called supplemental funding addresses the needs of the Ukrainian military during the crucial weeks and months ahead. And it begins to transition to longer-term security assistance that's going to help Ukraine deter and continue to defend against Russian aggression.”

"The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen. We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine,” Biden said in remarks from the White House on the 63rd day of the war.