Warren Buffett might avoid commenting on political matters, but his son Howard is making his opinions known about the war in Ukraine.
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has given more than half a billion dollars in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country two years ago. And while Congress is gridlocked at the moment about supplying additional aid to the country, Buffett says he’s planning to keep giving.
That’s in large part thanks to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, of whom Buffett is a big fan.
“I think he’s a pretty amazing guy,” he told Business Insider. “I don’t know when he sleeps. He just is constantly going. He’s been through two years of war, which is a living hell, and he’s dealing with it every single day.”
In the coming year, Buffett says, the foundation has earmarked another $300 million for Ukraine. And if history is any indicator, that number could be even higher. (The group has exceeded its budget for the country for the past two years.)
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation largely focuses on food security and conflict mitigation. The $800 million it will have donated by year’s end is more than many countries have given in humanitarian aid.
“Ukraine was one of the largest suppliers to the World Food Programme for food assistance worldwide, so it really disrupted their process when the war broke out,” he said. “You’re standing there giving food to somebody who all their life has produced food for other people.”
Buffett, who said he had discussed the situation with his father but opted to keep those conversations private, criticized the U.S. government for dragging its feet on additional aid packages, saying, “Either we stand with NATO and fight, which is what I think the only option is, or if we say we’re not going to support NATO, we are going to be in a world of hurt down the road.”
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