US President Joe Biden's Government Plans To Remove Ukraine's Debt Worth IDR 74.9 Trillion
JAKARTA - President Joe Biden's administration has moved to write off Ukraine's USD 4.7 billion debt, a US loan to Ukraine, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Wednesday, as the Washington administration will step down trying to do what it can before leaving office to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The funding bill passed by the US Congress in April covered more than $9.4 billion in debt that could be abolished for economic and budget support to the Ukrainian Government, half of which could be canceled by the president after November 15.
The bill allocated a total of 61 billion US dollars to help Ukraine fight the full-scale Moscow-launched invasion in February 2022.
"We have taken steps outlined in the law to cancel the loan," Miller told a news conference, adding the move had been taken in recent days.
However, Miller said Congress could still block the move.
The Senate will vote on Wednesday over a motion against the removal of loans to Ukraine filed by Republican Senator Rand Paul, a critic who has frequently criticized US support for Ukraine.
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It is known that the majority of senators from both the Democratic Party and Republicans support aid for Ukraine.
President Joe Biden himself has ordered officials to immediately provide as much assistance as possible to Ukraine before he leaves office on January 20. amid concerns that President-elect Donald Trump could limit Uncle Sam's support.