The US Congress has resumed a World War II lend-lease program for Ukraine
The US House of Representatives has supported a law that would make it easier to export military equipment to Ukraine by reviving the Lend-Lease Act, which helped defeat Hitler during World War II. The House of Representatives passed the Law on Land Lease 2022 on the Protection of Democracy in Ukraine by 417 votes to 10, three weeks after it was unanimously supported by the Senate. Now the law must be signed by the President of the United States, according to Reuters.
Two months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, members of Congress hoped the act would work as it did eight decades ago, allowing American companies to quickly replenish partner countries without having to remove bureaucratic hurdles.
“Today the Ukrainian people are standing on the front lines in the fight for democracy and against tyranny, and the U.S. needs to provide them with every possible measure of humanitarian and military aid,” said Democratic Party spokeswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, calling for support for the bill.
Among other provisions, the bill would allow the United States to provide equipment to Ukraine now, only with a technical requirement to pay for it later. Which, in fact, allows the Armed Forces to acquire weapons quickly, without waiting for all issues on its payment to be closed.
“Ukrainian forces have demonstrated unbelievable strength and bravery, and we must again serve as the arsenal of democracy and ensure they have the full range of resources necessary to defend their sovereignty,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn, lead author of the bill in the Senate.
The House of Representatives passed the law the same day Joe Biden asked Congress to approve an additional $33 billion in aid for Ukraine, including more than $20 billion in weapons, ammunition, and other military aid.