House Allocates $61B for Ukraine Aid: Senate Approval Pending
After the House of Representatives voted on a bill allocating approximately $61 billion for purposes directly or indirectly related to supporting Ukraine, it is expected that the Senate, the upper chamber of Congress, will examine it early next week.
Following this scrutiny, President Biden is anticipated to sign the aid package into law, as reported by the BBC.
Upon the bill's enactment by President Joe Biden, weaponry is poised to swiftly reach the battlegrounds in Ukraine within a week.
According to The Washington Post, amidst chants of "Ukraine!" and the fluttering of blue and yellow flags on the House floor, all Democrats alongside a minority of present Republicans broke a legislative deadlock that had persisted for months.
American officials affirm that the Pentagon stands ready to extend substantial military assistance to Ukraine immediately upon the approval of the stalled funding measure by the Senate and subsequent presidential endorsement.
The U.S. Department of Defense, forewarning of dire consequences without prompt congressional action, commenced assembling the aid package well in advance of the impending Senate vote to expedite the process.
An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity like others cited by The Washington Post, asserted that once the bill is finalised, the delivery of certain armaments to the battlefield could transpire in less than a week, contingent upon their storage location.
Furthermore, the Pentagon may furnish Ukraine with a fresh shipment of anti-aircraft defence equipment and ammunition, which are imperative assets in countering Russia's ongoing offensive against the nation's civilian infrastructure.
However, as highlighted by The Washington Post, Republicans in the House of Representatives are increasingly hesitant to allocate funds to Ukraine, contending that American resources would be better allocated to domestic concerns, such as southern border control.
House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised distinctions between the House bill and the Senate's approach, underscoring heightened accountability in aid provision to Ukraine.
Similarly, the Speaker of the State Duma, Viacheslav Volodin, conveyed a parallel sentiment via his Telegram channel.
Volodin lamented, "By its decision, the USA compels Ukraine to fight until the last Ukrainian, ultimately plunging its economy into ruin and depriving it of a future," in remarks made on Sunday.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
