Elevate Ukraine highlights impact recent legislation will have on war with Russia

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – President Joe Biden has signed a foreign aid package into law that will send funds to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. It comes after months of pushback and debate.

The legislation was passed with major bipartisan support in Congress. While many leaders referred to the legislation as ‘national security’, those opposing the passage say they couldn’t do so if it didn’t include sending funds to the southern border.

$95 billion will be used to provide aid and weaponry, mostly to Ukraine, with hopes of turning the tide on it’s war with Russia.

Elevate Ukraine, a Bryan-College Station based nonprofit works to provide humanitarian aid in the war-torn country. Over the last few months, Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Roman Popadiuk, said they focused on making sure those in Congress knew how important this legislation was.

“Ukraine’s held her own with what they had, and they were fighting for their own existence, so the morale is very good now with aid coming through this past week and with the president signing off on it today. I think that the tables have turned, Ukrainian morale is boosted even more. I think now the Russians are probably deflated to a great extent,” he said.

This aid for Ukraine was being championed last summer and has been held up with debates and other legislation.

“It’s unfortunate that it took such a long time, several months, to get this aid passed for Ukraine. During that time span, obviously Ukraine suffered on a number of fronts,” Popadiuk said. “Overall it was it’s bad that it took such a long time, but as they say, ‘all’s well that ends well’, they’ve got the aid they need and I think they’re up to the task of holding off the Russians and pushing them back.”

Popadiuk said their next focus is going back and highlighting the importance of humanitarian aid for the area.

This legislation also provides $26 billion for Israel with some humanitarian aid included for Palestinians in Gaza as the war against Hamas continues. There is also $8 billion for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region and countering China. President Biden signed the bipartisan agreement Wednesday morning.

“America must stand up for what is right. We don’t walk away from our allies. We stand with them. We don’t let tyrants win, we oppose them. We don’t merely watch global events unfold, we shape them. That’s what it means to be an indispensable nation. That’s what it means to be the world’s superpower and the world’s leading democracy,” he said.