If all procedures and the signature of President Joe Biden take place without delay, then as early as May Ukraine will be able to receive the first shipments of aid that are now so needed at the front.
The US House of Representatives (one of the houses of Congress where the Republicans have a majority) after more than six months of blocking military and financial aid to Ukraine finally approved a much-needed legislative package for Kyiv worth more than $60 billion. There were 311 votes in favor of the 218 required. “Against” – 112. The US aid package for Ukraine was blocked at the beginning of October 2023.
TSN.ua collected everything that is known about the vote and the world’s reaction.
The US House of Representatives passed a $60.84 billion aid package to Ukraine after HR 8035, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, received support from congressmen. This became known from the broadcast of the vote on April 20.
311 congressmen voted “for”. Of these, 210 are Democrats and 101 are Republicans. 112 congressmen opposed the initiative. Seven House members did not vote.
American money will be distributed according to the following scheme:
What's next
Now the entire package of four projects must be approved by the Senate. He was initially expected to reconvene after the break on April 29th. But Senate Speaker Democrat Chuck Schumer has already announced that a meeting to approve the aid will take place on April 23. Then President Joe Biden must sign.
In any case, aid for Ukraine should be finally released no later than the end of April.
The Pentagon has already announced that it will immediately send new shipments of weapons to Ukraine as soon as Congress unblocks the aid package.
Biden called on the Senate to quickly approve the Ukraine aid bill
US President Joe Biden called on the Senate to approve the military aid bill for Ukraine as soon as possible, according to the White House website.
“The US Senate must approve the Ukraine aid bill as soon as possible so that Washington can send weapons to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden emphasized.
The project is already being sent to the Senate, writes the White House press service.
“I urge the Senate to quickly send this package to my desk so I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet its urgent battlefield needs,” Biden said .
Reaction of Vladimir Zelensky
President Vladimir Zelensky responded to the decision of the US House of Representatives, which approved the bill on financing assistance to Ukraine.
“I am grateful to the US House of Representatives, both parties and Speaker Mike Johnson personally for a decision that keeps history on track. Democracy and freedom will always matter in the world and will never fail as long as America helps protect them,” the president emphasized.
He noted that “today (April 20 – ed.) a vital bill was passed that will help prevent the spread of war, save thousands and thousands of lives, and also make the people of Ukraine and the United States stronger.”
How European leaders reacted to the US vote
Polish politicians reacted to the approval by the US House of Representatives of a bill to provide assistance to Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk thanked the United States for the decision.
“Speaker Johnson, thank you. Better late than too late. And I hope it’s not too late for Ukraine,” he emphasized.
Marshal of the Polish Sejm Szymon Golownia, in turn, after the House of Representatives vote, wrote: “On behalf of the people of Poland, I want to thank Speaker Johnson for passing the additional package for Ukraine at the last minute in the House of Representatives. This war must be won and will be won. thumbs/608xX/28/ac/a067f29632a42a9ddc71b6baf0d2ac28.jpeg” width=”608″ height=”405″ alt=”© Associated Press”>
The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that this is “a long time ago overdue” and an important aid package for Ukraine.
“This sends a clear signal to the Kremlin: those who believe in freedom and the UN Charter will continue to support Ukraine and its people,” he wrote.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine deserves “all possible support” to confront Russia.
“We now ask the US Senate to vote quickly because lives are at stake. Transatlantic allies are united in support of freedom and democracy,” she said.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that this is a big step towards victory and all allies will continue to support Ukraine, and the support and unity of the West is extremely important today.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili emphasized that “Ukraine is fighting for all of us and deserves full support.”
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