The US Senate has passed a long-delayed multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, paving the way for new weapons to be delivered to Kiev as early as this week.
The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the bill late Tuesday night in the United States by a vote of 79 to 18, after it had been blocked for months by right-wing Republicans and parts of four bills.
“I will sign this bill and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow, so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” President Joe Biden said in a statement shortly after. ” he said.
Much of the $95 billion aid package is destined for Ukraine, which is struggling to fend off Russian forces on a 1,000-kilometre (1,000-kilometre) front with dwindling arms.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed the final passage.
“Ukraine's long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense are important tools for the early restoration of a just peace,” he said on social media, adding that the move was “a beacon of democracy and a leader of the free world. “The role of the United States has been strengthened,” he said.
The bill is worth $61 billion to Ukraine, but also provides $26 billion to Israel, as well as humanitarian aid in Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, and to Taiwan, the democratic island that China claims as its territory. It will also provide more than $8 billion in military assistance.
Taipei said it would discuss the use of the funds with the United States. The Chinese government's Taiwan Affairs Office has not ruled out the possibility of using force to take control of the island, but it “firmly opposes” the inclusion of what it calls “Taiwan-related content” in the aid package. said.
turn the corner
Additional funding for Ukraine has been the subject of months of acrimonious debate among lawmakers over how or whether to help Ukraine defend itself, and former President Donald Trump and Concerned hard-line Republicans are demanding concessions on U.S. southern border policy in exchange for additional funding for Ukraine. support.
A similar bill passed the Senate in February but stalled in the House until Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, a Trump ally, suddenly had a change of heart earlier this month and proposed repackaging the bill into four bills.
The new policy, which also allows Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and provide funds to Kiev for reconstruction, secured approval in the House of Representatives on April 20 with 311 votes in favor and 112 votes against.
Senate Democratic and Republican leaders said the vote shows Congress is back on track.
“This national security bill is the most important national security bill Congress has passed in a very long time to protect the security of the United States and the security of Western democracies,” Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters after the vote. This is one of the important measures.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican and strong supporter of aid to Ukraine, expressed regret over the delay.
“I think we've turned the corner on the isolationist movement,” McConnell said.
Reuters and the Associated Press reported on Monday that the Biden administration is already preparing the first round of military aid related to the bill, which will focus on battlefield-ready weapons.
It was not immediately clear what impact the funding to Israel, which already receives billions of dollars in security aid from the United States each year, would have on the Gaza conflict.
Aid advocates hope humanitarian aid will help Palestinians in the region, devastated by Israeli shelling and facing starvation.
At least 34,183 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict erupted in October, with Hamas launching an unprecedented offensive against Israel, leaving more than 1,100 dead and dozens more taken prisoner. Ta.
The package of measures includes a bill that would ban popular video-sharing app TikTok unless it is divested from its Chinese parent company.