2014 – Money flows to … Russia.
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“Ukraine reached a preliminary deal with the International Monetary Fund to unlock $27 billion in international aid as U.S. lawmakers passed bills imposing more sanctions on Russians linked to Crimea’s annexation.” Source: Bloomberg, Mar 27, 2014
$18 billion of that aid package is being anted up by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Note 1: The U.S. finances 17.7% of the IMF budget, so U.S. taxpayers are kicking in a cool $3.2 billion in the deal – to ‘bail out’ Ukraine.
It was also announced (NY Times, March 27, 2014): Congress Approves $1 Billion of Aid for Ukraine
WASHINGTON — The House and the Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine….
Total from the U.S. – approximately $4.2 billion
Note 2: A significant $2.2 billion from these bailout packages will actually go to pay off some Ukrainian debt to……. Russian natural gas giant, Gazprom.
Gazprom has been playing some ‘hard-ball’ lately when it nearly “doubled the gas price for Ukraine to $485 per 1,000 cubic metres, compared to the $370-$380 it charges Europe on average. Ukraine says the new price is unacceptable and is politically motivated.” Source: Ukraine fails to pay for gas on time, debt stands at $2.2-billion: Russia’s Gazprom
U.S. taxpayers to the rescue. Money to Ukraine. Money to Russia.
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This raises an important question: How is it that our government could see fit in 2014 to authorize billions of dollars in bailouts to Ukraine… to help relieve their Russian debt, while at the same time our government would not consider granting equal access to credit extensions to our own U.S. citizens, to advance the cause of debt relief for American families?
It is time for some powerful new economics in America.
The Leviticus 25 Plan – the equal opportunity plan for American families.