The United States will take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, the White House has announced, as more than 3.5 million people have fled the country amid Russia’s ongoing bombardment.
In a statement on Thursday, the White House said the Biden administration also would provide more than $1bn in humanitarian assistance, as well as $320m to bolster democracy and human rights in Ukraine and neighbouring nations.
The humanitarian aid will go towards food, shelter, clean water, medical supplies and other assistance, the statement said, reports Al Jazeera and news agencies
Many of the Ukrainian refugees will be admitted under US law providing for “humanitarian parole”, an avenue used to bring in thousands of Afghans following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August.
Thursday’s announcement coincided with US President Joe Biden’s trip to Europe, where he joined emergency meetings with European, NATO and Group of Seven (G7) leaders in Brussels to coordinate the Western response to the crisis.
NATO leaders earlier said they had agreed to set up four new combat units on NATO’s eastern flank, and the alliance will equip Ukraine to respond to potential chemical, biological or nuclear assaults from Russia.
The Biden administration also announced fresh sanctions on several “elites” close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was committed “to ensuring Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its further invasion of Ukraine”.
The US and its allies in Europe have imposed a series of sweeping curbs on Russia since the country launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine late last month, targeting the profitable Russian oil-and-gas sector, as well as government officials and wealthy backers of Putin.
But the Biden administration, which earlier this month extended temporary protected status to shield Ukrainians already in the US from deportation, has been under pressure to do more to help Ukrainian refugees.
While Biden had pledged to welcome Ukrainians fleeing war, administration officials have said they believe most will want to stay in Europe, where they can travel visa free and be with family and friends.
In its statement on Thursday, the White House said among the first Ukrainian refugees coming to the US will be those who already have family in the country. US efforts also will focus on helping refugees who are considered particularly vulnerable following the Russian invasion, including LGBTQ people, those with medical needs, journalists and dissidents, it said.
The White House said it would use “the full range of legal pathways”, including the refugee resettlement programme, for Ukrainians seeking to come to the US.
Additionally, part of the newly announced $320m to bolster democracy and human rights in Ukraine and neighbouring countries will go towards documenting alleged war crimes, the White House said.
