80 years later: the US opens lend-lease. Why is it important?
On April 6, the US Senate submitted a bill on lend-lease for Ukraine. Let's take a look at why this news matters more than the many financial aid announcements.
Lend-lease is the US government program that allows them to transfer weapons, equipment, bills, food, medical equipment, medicines and strategic raw materials to allies without prepayment, additional bureaucratic procedures and in a short time frame.
First Lend-Lease: 1941
It was the third year of the protracted and bloody war against the Axis powers. The anti-Hitler coalition, which at that time consisted of 13 countries, was not in a good position. The Soviet army, weakened by Stalin's repressions, was not ready for Hitler to begin a campaign against the country, ignoring the signed Allied treaty. The occupation of Europe continued: not only were there not enough soldiers, but also not enough equipment to fight back against a trained army.
In 1941, the United States of America entered the war, taking the side of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. On March 11, 1941, the 77th US Congress in the first session signed the Lend-Lease Act, which subsequently helped win the war and fight back one of the strongest armies of the time.
Based on this law, the United States could help any country whose defense, in the opinion of the American government, was vital for them. The main recipients of such generous assistance were the USSR and the British Commonwealth of Nations. According to official estimates, the United States delivered resources worth about $50 billion, and in terms of current money, about $690 billion.
The act contained clauses that provided for the return of the remnants of the transferred resources after the end of the war or for the payment of the remaining assets through long-term interest-free loans provided by the United States. Aid deliveries to friendly countries not only increased their defenses, but in time allowed for the offensive, which led to victory in the spring of 1945.
Lend-Lease for Ukraine
The bill of the Lend-Lease for Democracy in Ukraine was finally approved by the US House of Representatives on April 28, 2022.
Interestingly, on April 15, 2022, Russia sent a note of protest to President Biden's administration, warning of "unpredictable consequences" if military supplies to Ukraine were not stopped. But this did not prevent the Senate and the House of Representatives from approving the bill by a majority vote (417 in favor and 10 against).
The Ukrainian government will receive assistance similar to what the United States provided to the US allies during World War II. There is also a clause in the law, according to which the States can transfer lend-lease aid to other countries that have been or will be affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The law will eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic procedures and send military and humanitarian cargo to Ukraine within a very short time – up to several days. Within 60 days after the adoption of the act, the head of the White House is obliged to establish an accelerated procedure for the supply of resources to Ukraine.
The passage of this act will allow the US to supply Ukraine with everything it needs to fight a long war with deployed military, logistical and industrial capabilities. America will provide all the necessary materials so that Ukraine can not only survive, but also win.