The U.S. Senate has approved an aid package that provides more than $60 billion in new funding for Ukraine. Find out more about the next steps and how soon the support could arrive

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The United States Senate has approved an aid package that provides more than $60 billion in new funding for Ukraine, The Guardian reports.

A total of 70 representatives of both political parties voted for the $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, a record for the entire history of the bill. Only 29 senators, mostly from the Republican Party, voted against the bill.

The US Senate has supported a bill that includes $60 billion in aid to Ukraine: details

The approved document provides more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel, $9.15 billion for humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine, and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan, and to deter Chinese aggression.

Next steps - approval in the House of Representatives

According to the established procedure, the bill must be approved by the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives. A majority vote from the congressmen present in the hall is enough. 

If the document is approved, it will be signed by US President Joe Biden, who has stated the urgency of this step. Thus, the first aid to Ukraine from this package could be provided in a very short time.

However, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the bill passed by the Senate, calling for combining aid to Ukraine and other US allies with the approval of the most stringent version of migration reform.

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Ukraine's reaction to the adoption of the bill on assistance of more than $60 billion 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his sincere gratitude to Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell and all U.S. senators who supported the provision of assistance to Ukraine in its fight for freedom, democracy and values that are important to everyone.

"For us in Ukraine, continued U.S. assistance allows us to save lives from Russian terror. This means that life in our cities will continue and the war will be won. American assistance brings a just peace to Ukraine and restores global stability, which will contribute to greater security and prosperity for all Americans and the entire free world," Zelenskyy emphasized.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, emphasized that the bulk of the amount ($50 billion) is intended for defense support.

"There will be even more weapons, equipment and ammunition for our defenders. The rest of the aid will be directed to direct budget support and other programs that will help Ukraine remain economically sustainable. We are grateful to the Senate for this important decision and look forward to supporting this aid in the House of Representatives," added Shmyhal.

US aid to Ukraine: what is known 

It is known that the discussion of support has been ongoing since October 2023. At that time, President Joe Biden emphasized the adoption of a bill to extend $106 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region, including Taiwan.

In November, House Speaker Johnson suggested combining aid to Ukraine with border security with Mexico. However, the process of adopting a bill to help Israel without Ukraine was delayed until February 2024.

On February 5, the U.S. Senate released details of the bill, which provides $118 billion in joint aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, including funding for southern border security. More than $60 billion is earmarked for Ukraine.

Currently, senators are trying to pass an aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan without including funding for U.S. border security.

It is worth noting that the United States has repeatedly emphasized the impossibility of continuing military assistance to Ukraine without new funding. This has become one of the key positions in the consideration of the new package.

We remind you! Earlier, we wrote that the dismissal of Valeriy Zaluzhnyi and the appointment of Colonel General Syrskyi as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine mark a transition to a new stage in the management of the country's military affairs. This decision may reflect strategic transformations in the army's policy and directions of development. Read more about the appointment of the new leader and what Zaluzhnyi is remembered for as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Photo: Caleb FisherUnsplash

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