The White House announced on Thursday that the U.S. will accept up to 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing from the Russian invasion, as President Joe Biden meets with world leaders in Europe.
The report comes as more than 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced by war since February 24, including 3.5 million people who have fled the country.
“While we expect many Ukrainians will choose to remain in Europe close to family and their homes in Ukraine, today, the United States is announcing plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression through the full range of legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program,” the Biden administration announced.
“In particular, we are working to expand and develop new programs with a focus on welcoming Ukrainians who have family members in the United States. The United States and the European Union are also coordinating closely to ensure that these efforts, and other forms of humanitarian admission or transfers, are complementary and provide much-needed support to Ukraine’s neighbors,” the statement added.
The announcement came in addition to news that the U.S. will provide more than $1 billion in additional funding to meet humanitarian needs for those in Ukraine.
“This funding will provide food, shelter, clean water, medical supplies and other forms of assistance. We are also announcing an additional $320 million in democracy and human rights funding to Ukraine and its neighbors,” the statement noted.
The large refugee resettlement announcement comes just months after Biden implemented the nation’s largest refugee resettlement effort since during the Vietnam War as tens of thousands of Afghans entered the nation upon America’s military departure from Afghanistan.
About 80,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S. under the program, according to Reuters.
In contrast, Reuters reported that “the United States would welcome Ukrainians fleeing war, but administration officials have said they believe most will want to stay in Europe where they can travel visa-free and have family and friends.”
NATO leaders met today in Brussels — one month since the start of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. We will continue to support Ukraine with security assistance to fight Russian aggression and uphold their right of self-defense. pic.twitter.com/F582A9qDJw
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 24, 2022
The news comes as Biden holds multiple meetings on Thursday with world leaders in Brussels regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the conflict enters its second month. The Daily Wire previously reported:
“We gather at a critical time for our security,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told the leaders. “We are united in condemning the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression and in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
He added that the alliance is “determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about the end of this brutal war.”
Biden’s day will include attending the emergency NATO summit, a smaller meeting of the Group of Seven (G7), and a European Union summit, followed by a press conference.
The president is likely to announce additional sanctions against Russian leaders and oligarchs. On Wednesday, the White House also announced Russia’s military had committed war crimes.