WASHINGTON. The Senate is expected to vote today on $95 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, making the final moves before the legislation is sent to President Joe Biden’s desk after months of delays and wrangling over how much should involve the United States abroad.
The $61 billion for Ukraine comes as the war-torn country desperately needs fresh firepower as Russian President Vladimir Putin has stepped up his attacks. Soldiers are struggling to hold on to the front lines as Russia has gained momentum on the battlefield and forced Ukraine to cede significant territory.
Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday that the US would soon send urgently needed air defense weapons. The House of Representatives approved the package on Saturday in a series of four votes, sending it back to the Senate for final approval.
The package also includes $26 billion in aid to Israel and humanitarian aid to the citizens of Gaza, as well as $8 billion to counter China in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. In a bid to win more votes, Republicans in the House majority also added to the package a bill that could ban TikTok from operating in the US if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake within a year.
Source: “Associated Press”
