Now that we have completed our journey to Eastern Europe, we are facing a turning point in Ukraine.
Russia's war of aggression poses a serious threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the United States and Europe, to economic security, and to the very ideas of freedom and democracy that bind the world together. Putin's war is aimed at rebuilding an authoritarian and corrupt empire in the heart of Europe that seeks to weaken both NATO and the European Union.
This is not just a European story. Friends and foes alike in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world are watching to see how the United States responds to this moment. These are our global bets in supporting Ukraine.
As I have heard from our allies and partners in the region and beyond, now is the time to reaffirm America's commitment to Ukraine. With American help, along with more than 50 allies and partners around the world, Ukraine's brave soldiers have withstood Russia's onslaught. Over 50% recovered territory occupied by Russia significantly deteriorated Moscow's military capabilities.
Our security assistance is arming Ukrainians to defend their homeland and protect Europe, while modernizing the country's defense industrial base and increasing our readiness for whatever comes next.Funding the Patriot Air Defense System Made in Arkansas.Country of manufacture of shells pennsylvania, texas, new york and nine other states.abrams tank made in ohio.
U.S. security assistance strengthens America's military readiness and creates good-paying American jobs here at home. This will make us all stronger and safer. It ensures America remains a bulwark of democracy. The call for military support could not be louder than this.
The case for U.S. economic assistance is just as important as the case for security assistance. Economic resilience is a core tenet of Ukraine's war effort. Ukraine's security and economy form a double helix, deeply intertwined with the country's efforts to overthrow President Putin.
President Putin could not defeat Ukraine's brave army, even in winter. He focused his efforts on destroying the economy to achieve what was impossible on the battlefield.The Kremlin is doing its best to cut off Ukraine from the world grain, steel, technology and energy market.
These actions affect not only Ukraine but the world. They exacerbated global inflation.Ordinary Americans feel it too. At the supermarket and gas station.
1/3 of Ukraine's workforce Dedicated to feeding the world.Putin's wars are contributing to global food inflation, sparking a new wave of food shortages emigration. The situation will only get worse if President Putin erases Ukraine as a sovereign state from the map.
Our economic support is essential to resisting Russia's onslaught. Firstly, our economic aid supports the struggle of the Ukrainian people, as all of their tax revenues go to the military.they need our support 57,000 first respondersThis includes firefighters putting out flames set by Russian and Iranian weapons.and for them 517,000 Doctors, nurses, and health care workers who care for veterans, wounded soldiers, and children.
It's worth noting that America's allies and partners carry much of the weight. When you combine these, twice as many Economic aid provided by the United States to Ukraine. In fact, the EU wants to provide additional support to Ukraine. $54 billion We are providing assistance this year as well.
Second, U.S. economic aid to Ukraine doubles its military strength.Our support for Ukraine International Monetary Fund Program Generate further support from donors around the world.our $11.8 billion The request from Congress helps draw in nearly three times as much money as other donations. Compromising this could be catastrophic for Ukraine's ability to defeat Russia.
Thirdly, our economic aid is laying the foundations for the largest return on investment in terms of Ukraine's state revenue. Consider the Black Sea. A combination of investments in infrastructure, defense, and the private sector could allow Ukraine to increase exports of grain and steel to 8 million tons per month, which could add up to $5 billion per year to the Ukrainian government's coffers. This can in turn reduce dependence on international aid. .
Fourth, our support is transforming the post-Soviet legacy of corruption into a competitive, free-market future with an eye on the West.
As President Zelensky told parliament In December 2022, U.S. aid will be an investment, not a charity. Our economic aid must be coupled with accelerated and meaningful reforms in the energy sector, anti-corruption systems, customs, decentralization and more. Our assistance strengthens anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, thereby giving our greatest asset, the American private sector, an opportunity to accelerate Ukraine's recovery and support American jobs. .
Finally, the Biden administration is prioritizing oversight and accountability to ensure that all of American taxpayers' hard-earned money goes where it should go. The Government of Ukraine provides open access. three U.S. government surveillance agencies; Inspector General of the Department of Defense; of State Department and you wentand Congress, to ensure that every American dollar is protected and accounted for.
Our national security and economic policies are at the heart of our support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's naked aggression. That's how the double helix works. If we act now, this package will ensure that Ukraine, friend and foe alike, will win this war with American leadership, power, and resolve, and a free, independent, democratic, and economically prosperous country integrated into the euro. It will send a message about the future of the country. Atlantic Community.
Penny Pritzker is the U.S. Department of State's Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery.
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