US Senate approves aid package for Ukraine

The US Senate on 23 April (24 April Kyiv time), approved a bill to provide aid to Ukraine in the amount of 60.8 billion dollars. This is evidenced by a live broadcast from the US Senate meeting.

During the vote for the bill, which provides for the provision of aid to Ukraine for 61 billion dollars, 79 senators gave their votes "in favour" with the necessary 50. 18 senators voted "against".

Thus, both chambers of the US parliament approved the bill. Now it will go to President Joe Biden for signature, who promised to sign it immediately.

US President Joe Biden will sign a package of aid bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on 24 April to resume arms deliveries to Kiev this week, according to a statement on the White House website.

The bill provides $49.9 billion for defence spending, $1.57 billion for economic aid and another $400 million for border protection and humanitarian demining.

The bill also provides for $7.8 billion in direct budget support, but this money will be provided as a loan. Its terms will be defined in a separate agreement. This loan can be written off in the future. The new US President will have such powers after the elections on 5 November 2024.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the US Senate for passing a bill providing nearly 61bn dollars in aid to Ukraine. The corresponding message from the president appeared immediately after the Senate decision became known.

I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all U.S. Senators from both parties who voted in favour of it," Zelensky wrote.

He noted that this vote reinforces the role of the U.S. "as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world."

Zelensky also thanked all Americans who continue to support Ukraine and realise that the historic significance of this bill goes beyond politics.

I also appreciate President Biden's support and look forward to signing the bill soon and providing the next military aid package, which will be in line with the determination I always feel in our negotiations," Zelensky said.

The President emphasised that Ukraine's long-range capabilities, artillery and air defence are crucial tools for the speedy restoration of a just peace.

We shall remind you that on 20 April, the US Congress voted for the allocation of more than 60bn dollars to Ukraine for defence against Russian aggression. "In favour" voted 311 votes for 218 necessary. "Against" - 112. The passage of the law came after more than six months of delay. The House of Representatives of Congress, in which the majority is represented by Republicans, all this time blocked the aid under various pretexts.

The US Senate postponed the start of the holiday break to vote in favour of the bill providing support for Ukraine and Israel.

Before that, more than 35 famous American artists, activists, and scholars, including Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn, Timothy Snyder, and Francis Fukuyama, appealed to the US Congress to provide Ukraine with the funding it needs to win the war.

The prominent figures emphasised that "if Russia wins, it will be the fault of the United States. And then they will realise what they have lost. Everything Ukraine does for them can be reversed. If Ukraine is defeated, they will find themselves in a much more dangerous world."

American businessman and billionaire Ilon Musk indirectly accused the US authorities of continuing the "eternal war", but did not mention that the war was started by Russia, and Vladimir Putin is its main initiator and inspirer.

What worries me most is that there is no exit strategy, but only perpetual war, with children dying in trenches from artillery guns or charging machine guns and snipers in minefields," Musk said in the message.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in March that Ukraine would have to retreat step by step unless the US resumes military aid. Ukraine has lost six months while discussions are going on in Washington about allocating aid to Ukraine.

We have lost six months. We can't waste any more time. Ukraine cannot be a political issue between US parties," Zelensky said.

Zelensky added that if Ukraine falls, Putin will divide the world.