President Joe Biden announced after the NATO and Group of Seven meetings in Brussels on Thursday that the United States will accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian war refugees.  Additionally, more than $1 billion in new funding will also be provided for humanitarian assistance for victims of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Biden said: “Many Ukrainian refugees will wish to stay in Europe, closer to their homes, but we’ll also welcome 100,000 Ukrainians to the United States with a focus on reuniting families.  The United States is one of the leaders in the international community and has an obligation to be engaged.” 

The White House said in a statement that Ukraine war refugees will be welcomed through “the full range of legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.  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 U.S. has deployed a 25-person humanitarian response team to assess the needs, provide assistance and coordinate humanitarian efforts closely with the United Nations, NGO’s and the government of Ukraine, and is working to reach 3.1 million people in Ukraine with ready-to-eat rations, canned goods, bread, wheat, flour and oil. Mobile medical teams are also working to provide emergency health supplies and medicine, as well as providing psychological and mental health support.

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