Just weeks before his presidency comes to an end, President Joe Biden is actively seeking to garner support for Ukraine. With the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump right around the corner on Jan. 20, Biden made a significant announcement on Wednesday, Nov. 20. In an effort to assist Ukraine, he has decided to forgive a substantial amount of their debt, totaling $4.7 billion.
The president has been granted the authority to forgive the debt through a funding bill passed by the U.S. Congress in April. The bill approved $9.4 billion in loan forgiveness.
The Biden administration’s decision holds significance for the White House as there are concerns within the administration that Trump might restrict U.S. funding for the war.
The loan forgiveness announced by both the White House and Ukraine aims to provide Ukraine with the necessary means to uphold its defense capabilities while ensuring the smooth functioning of its government.
Some Republicans are raising concerns about the plan, arguing that providing loan forgiveness before leaving office may lack proper oversight and establish a negative precedent for lame-duck presidential actions.
The Biden administration has recently taken additional actions, such as sending anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine and granting authorization to Ukraine’s armed forces to target Russia with long-range ATACMS.
In response to Moscow’s utilization of approximately 10,000 North Korean troops to remove Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, the White House has made its decisions.
