The Congress of USA approved this Tuesday a huge package of military and economic aid by US$61,000 million to Ukraine, after months of hard and tense negotiations. The plan, which includes a total of 95 billion dollars which was given the green light by the North American Senate, also aims to contribute to countries such as Israel, Taiwan, Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, among others.
The order that the Senate approved yesterday also includes an ultimatum to TikTok. “Finally, finally, finally, tonight, after more than six months of hard work and many twists and turns along the way, the United States is sending a message to the entire world: we will not turn our backs on you,” said the Democratic leader Chuck Schumer before the vote.
The United States reinforces support for Ukraine over the war with Russia
The Democratic-controlled Senate passed the broader package with bipartisan support in a 79-18 vote. The Republican senator, Mitch McConnellhailed the vote as “an extremely important day in the history of our country and the free world.”
The package now goes to Bidenwhich presents it as a vital bulwark against Russian aggression and has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that it will become law.
Moments after the approval, Biden said he expects the United States to begin “sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week.” Washington “resolutely supports democracy and freedom, against tyranny and oppression,” the Democrat said in a statement.
The Ukrainian army faces a shortage of recruits and ammunition that weakens it in the face of constant pressure from Russian troops in the east.
The situation on the front may worsen towards mid-May and early June, which will be a “difficult period”, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kirilo Budanov, had warned on Monday.
The aid plan also authorizes Biden to seize and sell Russian assets so that they can be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine, an idea that is gaining support in other G7 countries.
Zelensky thanked Joe Biden for military and economic aid
The United States Congress had not approved an aid package for its ally for almost a year and a half. “I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for their strong leadership in passing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all the senators on both sides who voted in favor,” Zelensky posted on social media shortly afterward. of approval.
“I also appreciate President Biden’s support and look forward to the prompt ratification of the law,” he added. The debate in Congress over aid to Ukraine revealed divisions between Democrats and Republicans.
But also the scuffles between conservatives in the middle of the campaign for the November presidential elections, which will be a duel between Biden and his predecessor, the Republican Donald Trump.
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On Saturday, during the vote in the House of Representativessome congressmen waved Ukrainian flags amid boos from Trumpists, who are opposed to aid.
The American president and the Democratic Party were in favor of aid to Ukraine, which they see as an investment in US security in the face of what they see as Russia’s aggressive ambitions.
Republicans, however, were increasingly reluctant and the conservative leader of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, blocked the text for a long time.
But he ultimately supported the resumption of military and economic aid with this phrase: “To put it bluntly: I’d rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys.”
US economic aid package: Israel also adds support from Biden
The package also includes $13 billion in military aid for Israelat war against the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Stripand more than $9 billion to “meet the urgent need for humanitarian aid to Loop and other vulnerable populations around the world.
It also includes 8 billion dollars more to help Taiwan to counter China’s threats to reincorporate it into its territory one day, even through force.
The text also provides for the ban of the TikTok application in the United States within a few months, unless the social network cuts its ties with its parent company, ByteDance, and in general with China.
US authorities accuse the platform of allowing Beijing spy on and manipulate its 170 million users on USA.
Source: Ambito
