After months of delay, a sweeping foreign aid package easily passed the U.S. Congress late on Tuesday, clearing the way for billions of dollars in fresh Ukraine funding amid advances from Russia’s invasion force and Kyiv’s shortages of military supplies.
The Senate approved four bills passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday by 79 to 18, after House Republican leaders abruptly switched course last week and allowed a vote on the $95 billion in mostly military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific.
The Senate combined the four bills into a single package, which President Joe Biden promised to sign into law on Wednesday.
The largest provides $61 billion in critically needed funding for Ukraine; a second provides $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world; and a third mandates $8.12 billion to ‘counter communist China’ in the Indo-Pacific.
A fourth, which the House added to the package last week, includes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine, and new sanctions on Iran.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Biden’s administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first to come from the bill. The package includes vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155 millimeter artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, and other weapons that are immediately deployable on the battlefield.
The Senate combined the four bills into a single package, which President Joe Biden promised to sign into law on Wednesday.
The largest provides $61 billion in critically needed funding for Ukraine; a second provides $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world; and a third mandates $8.12 billion to ‘counter communist China’ in the Indo-Pacific.
A fourth, which the House added to the package last week, includes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine, and new sanctions on Iran.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters that Biden’s administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first to come from the bill. The package includes vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155 millimeter artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, and other weapons that are immediately deployable on the battlefield.
The Senate’s Democratic and Republican leaders predicted that Congress had turned the corner in putting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign adversaries on notice that Washington would continue supporting Ukraine and other foreign partners.
“This national security bill is one of the most important measures Congress has passed in a very long time to protect American security and the security of Western democracy,” Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told a news conference after the vote.
The aid package could be the last approved for Ukraine until after the elections in November, when the White House, House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs.
Much of the opposition to the security assistance in both the House and Senate has come from Republicans with close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic who has stressed ‘America First’ policies as he seeks a second term.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong advocate for assisting Ukraine, expressed regret about the delay, largely due to hardline Republicans’ objections to adding more to the $113 billion Washington had authorized for Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“I think we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement,” McConnell told a news conference.
Some of the Ukraine money—$10 billion in economic support—comes in the form of a loan, which Trump had suggested. But the bill lets the president forgive the loan starting in 2026.
“This national security bill is one of the most important measures Congress has passed in a very long time to protect American security and the security of Western democracy,” Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told a news conference after the vote.
The aid package could be the last approved for Ukraine until after the elections in November, when the White House, House of Representatives, and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs.
Much of the opposition to the security assistance in both the House and Senate has come from Republicans with close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic who has stressed ‘America First’ policies as he seeks a second term.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong advocate for assisting Ukraine, expressed regret about the delay, largely due to hardline Republicans’ objections to adding more to the $113 billion Washington had authorized for Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“I think we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement,” McConnell told a news conference.
Some of the Ukraine money—$10 billion in economic support—comes in the form of a loan, which Trump had suggested. But the bill lets the president forgive the loan starting in 2026.
Boosting defense industry
The influx of weapons should enhance Kyiv’s prospects of preventing a significant advance in the east by Russian invaders. However, analysts suggest that the aid would have been more beneficial if it had arrived closer to the time when Biden requested it last year.
Schumer mentioned that he left a message for Zelenskyy on Tuesday night, stating, “OK, we got it done. Now go win the fight.”
This year, the Democratic-led Senate has passed security aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific for the second time. The previous bill, which was more than two months ago, received support from 70% of the 100-member chamber, including both Republicans and Democrats. However, the leaders of the Republican-controlled House did not permit a vote on the foreign aid until last week.
The legislation’s progress has been closely monitored by the industry, as U.S. defense firms are in line for significant contracts to supply equipment to Ukraine and other U.S. partners.
Experts anticipate that the supplemental spending will increase the order backlog of RTX Corp., as well as other major companies that receive government contracts, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.
The House approved the Ukraine funding with a vote of 311–112, with all the ‘no’ votes coming from Republicans, a significant number of whom were strongly opposed to additional assistance for Kyiv. Only 101 Republicans voted in favor of it, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to rely on Democratic support and leading to calls for his removal as House leader.
However, the House left Washington for a week-long recess without triggering a vote to remove Johnson.
The influx of weapons should enhance Kyiv’s prospects of preventing a significant advance in the east by Russian invaders. However, analysts suggest that the aid would have been more beneficial if it had arrived closer to the time when Biden requested it last year.
Schumer mentioned that he left a message for Zelenskyy on Tuesday night, stating, “OK, we got it done. Now go win the fight.”
This year, the Democratic-led Senate has passed security aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific for the second time. The previous bill, which was more than two months ago, received support from 70% of the 100-member chamber, including both Republicans and Democrats. However, the leaders of the Republican-controlled House did not permit a vote on the foreign aid until last week.
The legislation’s progress has been closely monitored by the industry, as U.S. defense firms are in line for significant contracts to supply equipment to Ukraine and other U.S. partners.
Experts anticipate that the supplemental spending will increase the order backlog of RTX Corp., as well as other major companies that receive government contracts, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman.
The House approved the Ukraine funding with a vote of 311–112, with all the ‘no’ votes coming from Republicans, a significant number of whom were strongly opposed to additional assistance for Kyiv. Only 101 Republicans voted in favor of it, forcing Speaker Mike Johnson to rely on Democratic support and leading to calls for his removal as House leader.
However, the House left Washington for a week-long recess without triggering a vote to remove Johnson.
Zelenskyy praises vital aid
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the U.S. Senate’s approval of a multi-billion aid package for Ukraine reinforces America’s role as a “beacon of democracy.”
“I am grateful to the US Senate for (Tuesday’s) approval of vital aid to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that the U.S. Senate’s approval of a multi-billion aid package for Ukraine reinforces America’s role as a “beacon of democracy.”
“I am grateful to the US Senate for (Tuesday’s) approval of vital aid to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
“This vote reinforces America’s role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world.”I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell @LeaderMcConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all US…
Source: Reuters
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