US Senate passes $95 billion bill including aid to Ukraine
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The U.S. Senate has given overwhelming bipartisan support to a $95 billion bill to provide security aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, boosting President Joe Biden's top foreign policy priorities. obtained and approved.
Final passage of the bill in Congress on Tuesday ended months of political gridlock and cleared the way for Washington to quickly dispatch new weapons. ukraine We are fighting against a full-scale Russian invasion. U.S. officials said some aid to Kiev would arrive within days.
The bill would also increase U.S. military aid to Israel. Exchanging a drone attack and a missile attack The talks with Iran come in the past 10 days despite heightened tensions between the White House and Israeli leaders over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and the heavy toll of Palestinian civilians.
The approval marks a victory in Congress for Mr. Biden, who faces Donald Trump's election campaign in November, but also represents a victory for Mr. It means a defeat for Republican members of Congress close to the president.
The bill received support from 79 senators, with 18 voting against it.
Biden welcomed the bill's passage and said he would sign it on Wednesday. Aid could start arriving in Ukraine as early as this week. “Congress passed my bill to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership. We will defend democracy and freedom and stand firmly against tyranny and oppression.”
“Mr. Putin thinks he can play with time, so we have to try to make up for it,” White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby said, referring to the Russian president.
Immediately after the vote, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the US Senate and said it would “strengthen America's role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world.”
President Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense systems.In recent weeks, as the inventory of anti-aircraft missiles is decreasing, the Russian military has launch a widespread missile attack Targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
China on Wednesday protested funding included in a bill to expand military aid to Taiwan, which is part of the bill's $8.12 billion Indo-Pacific portion. The spending includes $1.9 billion to replenish defense goods and services provided to Taipei and other regional partners, and $2 billion in overseas military funding to Taiwan and other allies.
The Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles relations with the island that the Chinese government claims as its own territory, accused Congress of “stuffing Taiwan-related content into the bill'' and said, “We have asked the United States to demand “Taiwan independence.'' Please take action and stop supplying arms to Taiwan in any form. ”
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that the passage of the funds shows the United States' “robust” support for Taiwan despite the Middle East crisis and war in Ukraine.
Despite months of intraparty divisions and opposition from some rank-and-file members, including Rep. Marjorie, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson voted on Saturday to vote on the Ukraine aid bill, the most stringent version of the bill. The hurdle has been cleared. Georgia's Taylor Greene threatened to remove him from his position.
Supporters of the bill in both parties and the White House viewed its passage as a bittersweet victory because it took so long to pass Congress.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that “much of the hesitation and short-sightedness that has delayed this moment is based on pure fiction,” former Fox News host who recently interviewed Russian President Vladimir. accused Tucker Carlson of President Vladimir Putin “demonizes'' Ukraine to Moscow.
“Make no mistake: delays in providing Ukraine with weapons for its own defense complicate the prospects for defeating Russian aggression. Hesitation and hesitation are exacerbating the challenges we face. '' McConnell said.
Ukraine-backed opponents continued to attack the bill. Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, who is close to President Trump, likened the arguments in favor of the aid to those that led to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, saying, “Twenty years later, it's still the same exact thing, albeit with a different name.'' It’s a moot point,” Vance said.
Meanwhile, some left-wing lawmakers criticized the bill as allowing Israel to continue receiving offensive weapons from the United States. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders advocated an amendment to remove these measures from the bill, but it was not considered.
Sanders joined two Democrats and 15 Republicans who opposed the policy.
“I voted against the foreign aid package tonight for a simple reason: U.S. taxpayers will give the extremist Netanyahu regime billions more dollars to continue its devastating war against the Palestinian people. “It shouldn't be funded,” he said.
Additional reporting by Fabrice Despreez in Kyiv and Catherine Hill in Taipei
Summarize this content to 100 words Stay informed with free updatesJust sign up for US foreign policy myFT Digest — delivered straight to your inbox.The U.S. Senate has given overwhelming bipartisan support to a $95 billion bill to provide security aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, boosting President Joe Biden's top foreign policy priorities. obtained and approved.Final passage of the bill in Congress on Tuesday ended months of political gridlock and cleared the way for Washington to quickly dispatch new weapons. ukraine We are fighting against a full-scale Russian invasion. U.S. officials said some aid to Kiev would arrive within days.The bill would also increase U.S. military aid to Israel. Exchanging a drone attack and a missile attack The talks with Iran come in the past 10 days despite heightened tensions between the White House and Israeli leaders over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and the heavy toll of Palestinian civilians.The approval marks a victory in Congress for Mr. Biden, who faces Donald Trump's election campaign in November, but also represents a victory for Mr. It means a defeat for Republican members of Congress close to the president.The bill received support from 79 senators, with 18 voting against it.Biden welcomed the bill's passage and said he would sign it on Wednesday. Aid could start arriving in Ukraine as early as this week. “Congress passed my bill to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the power of American leadership. We will defend democracy and freedom and stand firmly against tyranny and oppression.””Mr. Putin thinks he can play with time, so we have to try to make up for it,” White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby said, referring to the Russian president.Immediately after the vote, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy thanked the US Senate and said it would “strengthen America's role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world.”President Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense systems.In recent weeks, as the inventory of anti-aircraft missiles is decreasing, the Russian military has launch a widespread missile attack Targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure.China on Wednesday protested funding included in a bill to expand military aid to Taiwan, which is part of the bill's $8.12 billion Indo-Pacific portion. The spending includes $1.9 billion to replenish defense goods and services provided to Taipei and other regional partners, and $2 billion in overseas military funding to Taiwan and other allies. The Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles relations with the island that the Chinese government claims as its own territory, accused Congress of “stuffing Taiwan-related content into the bill'' and said, “We have asked the United States to demand “Taiwan independence.'' Please take action and stop supplying arms to Taiwan in any form. ”Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that the passage of the funds shows the United States' “robust” support for Taiwan despite the Middle East crisis and war in Ukraine. Despite months of intraparty divisions and opposition from some rank-and-file members, including Rep. Marjorie, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson voted on Saturday to vote on the Ukraine aid bill, the most stringent version of the bill. The hurdle has been cleared. Georgia's Taylor Greene threatened to remove him from his position. Supporters of the bill in both parties and the White House viewed its passage as a bittersweet victory because it took so long to pass Congress.Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that “much of the hesitation and short-sightedness that has delayed this moment is based on pure fiction,” former Fox News host who recently interviewed Russian President Vladimir. accused Tucker Carlson of President Vladimir Putin “demonizes'' Ukraine to Moscow.“Make no mistake: delays in providing Ukraine with weapons for its own defense complicate the prospects for defeating Russian aggression. Hesitation and hesitation are exacerbating the challenges we face. '' McConnell said. RecommendationUkraine-backed opponents continued to attack the bill. Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance, who is close to President Trump, likened the arguments in favor of the aid to those that led to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, saying, “Twenty years later, it's still the same exact thing, albeit with a different name.'' It’s a moot point,” Vance said.Meanwhile, some left-wing lawmakers criticized the bill as allowing Israel to continue receiving offensive weapons from the United States. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders advocated an amendment to remove these measures from the bill, but it was not considered.Sanders joined two Democrats and 15 Republicans who opposed the policy.“I voted against the foreign aid package tonight for a simple reason: U.S. taxpayers will give the extremist Netanyahu regime billions more dollars to continue its devastating war against the Palestinian people. “It shouldn't be funded,” he said.Additional reporting by Fabrice Despreez in Kyiv and Catherine Hill in Taipei
https://www.ft.com/content/2bf55e1b-173b-4b63-b26b-95d9a23f5a58 US Senate passes $95 billion bill including aid to Ukraine
