Zelenskyy thanks US for fresh aid package worth $33 billion
Kyiv, Apr 29 (EFE).- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the United States for a fresh aid package tabled in the Congress, which he said would help the embattled country counter Russian aggression against its territory and democracy.
In a speech published on his official page late on Thursday, Zelenskyy referred to the fresh aid package for Ukraine worth $33 billion that US President Joe Biden’s administration has sought to get approved by the Congress.
“In particular, more than 20 billion can be allocated for defense. More than $ 8 billion is planned for economic support. Another $3 billion will be allocated for humanitarian aid,” the Ukrainian president said, as per a transcript provided by state news agency Ukrinform.
“This is a very important step by the United States. And I am grateful to the American people and personally to President Biden for it,” he added.
The leader hoped that the US Congress would “quickly” back the request and added that the negative consequences of the Russian invasion and against democracy per se were so huge that Washington’s support was key.
“Together, we can certainly stop Russian aggression and reliably defend freedom in Europe,” he said.
In the US Congress, Biden had admitted on Thursday that “the cost of this fight is not cheap,” but insisted that “caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we let it happen.”
The Ukrainian president said authorities were also working to divert the frozen assets of Russian figures and institutions under sanctions to “compensate Ukraine for this war and to restore normal life.”
“The investigation into the crimes committed by the Russian military against our people is underway. Ukraine’s position is absolutely clear – every Russian criminal must be and will be brought to justice. Whoever they are and wherever they hide, we will find them all and make them bear responsibility,” Zelenskyy added.
He announced that 10 Russian personnel, allegedly belonging to the 64th motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Ground Forces, had been identified as suspects for committing crimes against Ukrainians in Bucha, outside Kyiv.
“Their surnames are known. It is established what they did. We know all the details about them and their actions. And we will find everyone. Just as we will find all the other Russian thugs who killed and tortured Ukrainians. Who tormented our people,” the president vowed. EFE
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