Despite the US having sent over $60 billion to Ukraine to aid in their ongoing war with their Russian invaders since February, in June Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded even more resources while on a phone call with President Joe Biden, causing him to "lose his temper" at the leaders apparent lack of gratitude.
According to NBC, "Biden had barely finished telling Zelensky he’d just greenlighted another $1 billion in US military assistance for Ukraine when Zelensky started listing all the additional help he needed and wasn’t getting. Biden lost his temper, the people familiar with the call said."
The call took place on June 15, a full month's time after the US sent its Congress-approved $40 billion package.
Zelensky backpedaled after the incident and thanked Biden in public that same day, saying, "I had an important conversation with US President Biden today. I am grateful for this support. It is especially important for our defense in Donbas."
Biden reciprocated and put out a statement that said, "will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom."
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine phone calls between President Biden and Zelensky have become routine as the US transfers money to the country in supplemental figures.
Putin invaded on February 24, and by March, the Biden administration had already sent a total of $2 billion to Ukraine for security assistance. Much of that assistance took the form of direct transfers of equipment from the Department of Defense to the Ukrainian military.
In May, President Biden requested an additional $33 billion for Ukraine but then on May 10 the US House of Representatives approved $40 billion in "additional military and humanitarian aid" to help Ukraine's defense against the ongoing Russian invasion. A few days later the Biden administration announced an additional $100 million in arms funding to Ukraine on top of that newly approved $40 billion aid package. On June 15, the day of the contentious phone call, Biden announced that the United States would be sending an additional $1 billion in weapons to Ukraine along with another $225 million in humanitarian aid.
In early August, the Biden White House provided Ukraine with an additional $4.5 billion, increasing the total budgetary support sent to the country since February's invasion by Russia to nearly $60 billion.
By September, Biden asked for another $13.7 billion that was technically part of a broader package aimed at Covid and monkeypox relief.
Congress is set to greenlight more money for Ukraine in the coming weeks as the Biden administration has asked for roughly $40 to $60 billion to go toward the country's war efforts.
Ukraine is trying to win back the city of Kherson which has been captured by the Russians but the prospect grows challenging as winter is coming.
A Pew poll conducted last month said that, "The proportion of Americans who are extremely or very concerned about Ukraine’s losing the war has dropped by 17 percentage points since May, from 55 percent to 38 percent."
Join and support independent free thinkers!
We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.
Remind me next month
To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy
