U.S. Senate approves $60 billion aid package for Ukraine
U.S. Senate approves $60 billion aid package for Ukraine (Getty Images)
The United States Senate has backed a package providing new funding assistance to Ukraine totaling over $60 billion, citing the live broadcast of the Senate session.
The senators' vote is still ongoing, but there are already over 60 votes in favor, surpassing the required 50.
However, it's crucial to acknowledge that this isn't the final decision for the U.S. as the bill must still pass through the House of Representatives, whose speaker, Mike Johnson, has already criticized the document.
U.S. assistance to Ukraine
The U.S. has depleted the funds allocated for aiding Ukraine. Last year, U.S. President Joe Biden urged Congress to allocate over $100 billion, with over $60 billion earmarked for assistance to Ukraine at the White House. The rest of the funds are intended for aiding Israel and Taiwan, as well as border protection.
The issue of border protection has become a stumbling block as Republicans refused to support the White House's measures, demanding a tougher immigration policy.
Meanwhile, Republican representatives were willing to consider aid to Ukraine only in connection with border protection.
Subsequently, Democrats and Republicans began negotiations to develop a compromise bill. The work on it was completed days ago, but it failed to pass the Senate as Republicans voted against it.
Later, assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan was decided to be considered separately from the border issue. Democrats initiated this move, although some Republicans in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress also supported the idea.
One party's support in the Senate is insufficient, the package must still pass the House of Representatives, where Speaker Republican Mike Johnson may oppose the initiative, as he's willing to vote separately on aid to Israel only, apart from border issues.
Johnson has previously brought an Israeli package to the House for consideration, which was supported. However, the Senate refused to even consider a similar initiative.
The U.S. has repeatedly emphasized that it cannot continue military aid to Ukraine without new funding.
On February 6, U.S. President Joe Biden called on Congress to immediately approve new aid to Ukraine. He added that he needs to "get the bill to his desk immediately," but if the bill fails, the American people are going to know why it fails.
