The Biden administration has told Congress it plans to cancel $4.65 billion in Ukraine debt, about half of the economic loans provided earlier this year.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed the plan in a briefing Wednesday. “Therefore, we have taken the steps outlined in the law to cancel these loans and provide economic aid to Ukraine,” he said.
Congress passed an additional funding package in April that would provide $60 billion worth of aid to Ukraine, including $9 billion structured as loans, with provisions granting the administration forgiveness, Miller said.
Miller added that Congress could pass a resolution of disapproval to overturn the cancellation. Representative Thomas Massey, Republican of Kentucky, introduced such a resolution Wednesday night. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he would immediately introduce a resolution to block the bill.
Such a resolution is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate and could be vetoed by President Biden. The additional funding package gives the administration the authority to forgive 50% of the loans, with the remaining 50% potentially forgiven after January 2026.
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Firefighters work at the scene of a Russian missile attack on a residential area in Odessa, Ukraine, on Monday. (Handout by Press Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Reuters)
“When Joe Biden leaves office, he intends to forgive the $4.65 billion in debt that Ukraine owes American taxpayers. I am supporting HJ Res 224 to prevent this last American policy from taking effect. I just introduced you,” Massey posted on X.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, Congress has appropriated more than $175 billion for Ukraine.
Biden has focused his efforts on aiding Ukraine in the weeks since President-elect Trump won the election.
After months of hesitation, the president this week authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the United States to attack Russia. Shortly after, he authorized the use of anti-personnel landmines, angering human rights groups.
U.S. embassy in Kiev to close Wednesday as 'possibility of significant air attack' looms
Soldiers from the 24th Mechanized Brigade, named after Ukraine's King Danilo, fired a 120-millimeter mortar at front-line Russian troops on Tuesday.
Firefighters work at the scene of a Russian missile attack in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, on Thursday.
The Biden administration said the decision was made after Russia brought in 10,000 troops from North Korea to join the war in Ukraine.
Biden also vowed to direct the remaining $7 billion in additional funding to Ukraine before leaving office. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced $275 million in contributions to Ukraine, including more drones, artillery shells and mortars.
Trump's allies have accused Biden of “escalating” the war on the way out “for politics.”
Other hawkish lawmakers say this is a long-awaited step.
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Earlier this month, Biden also authorized U.S. military contractors to go to Ukraine to help maintain and repair U.S.-made weapons systems.
It is unclear whether President Trump will maintain these policies after taking office, but he has said during negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin that the war could be ended “within 24 hours.” It suggests that you believe.
