The American Congress finally approved yesterday Tuesday (in the early hours of today Wednesday, Greek time) a gigantic package of further military and economic aid to Ukraine, the fruit of many months of extremely tense and painstaking bargaining.
The financing package, which also includes funds for Israelthe Taiwanas well as an ultimatum for the platform TikTok, was approved by an extremely wide majority in the Senate. It had already been approved on Saturday by the House of Representatives.
The president Joe Biden immediately announced that he would ratify it later today, assuring that the US “will begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” after Congress approved a funding package that Kiev had been eagerly awaiting.
Pentagon
The US Department of Defense assured yesterday, Tuesday, that news military aid of the US will be handed over to Ukraine’s armed forces “within days”.
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said during a regular briefing of accredited reporters in Washington that the new aid would be “based on the most urgent needs” of Kiev. It will include “air defense capabilities” as well as “artillery ammunition,” he added.
“We are doing everything within our power (…) to be able to provide additional assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” he insisted.
After months of political deadlock in the US Congress, the House of Representatives on Saturday approved a $61 billion funding package to provide further US support to Ukraine, mostly military, by a large majority.
Gratitude in Kyiv
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US Senate today after the vote in which it was approved, by a large majority, the granting of 61 billion dollars of military and economic aid from the US to his country.
“Thank you to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, and to all US senators of both parties who voted for him,” Mr. Zelenskiy said on social media shortly after the text was approved.
The US has been Ukraine’s main military backer since war broke out in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukrainian territory, but the new aid package, which includes essential hardware, has been mired in Congress for months.
“I also appreciate President (US Joe) Biden’s support and hope that the bill will be signed soon and that the upcoming aid program will live up to the determination I always see in our negotiations,” Mr. Zelensky added.
According to him, the “long-range, artillery and anti-aircraft defense” capabilities that will be made available to Ukraine “are necessary tools to restore a just peace more quickly.”
The Ukrainian army is facing a serious shortage of both weapons and mainly ammunition, as well as personnel, while Moscow’s army is exerting unstoppable pressure on the eastern front, where it has now taken the initiative of the movements.
Biden: “The need is urgent”
The $95 billion aid package approved by Congress includes aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, security assistance to support Israel’s defense against Iran and its proxies, and funding for Taiwan to bolster of security against Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden applauded the Senate’s passage of the legislation in a written statement.
“I will sign this bill and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so that we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” Biden said. “The need is urgent: for Ukraine, which faces relentless bombing by Russia. for Israel, which has just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those affected by conflict and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan and Haiti; and for our partners seeking safety and stability in the Indo-Pacific”.
The president also thanked Schumer, McConnell and the bipartisan group of lawmakers who voted for the bill.
“This critical legislation will make our nation and world safer as we stand by our friends who are defending against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin,” Biden said.
With information from CNN, APE-MPE
