The U.S. House of Representatives, with a bipartisan majority from both the Democratic and Republican parties, approved a security aid package worth $95 billion for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan on Saturday, despite strong objections from some conservative Republicans. The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine and $26 billion for Israel (divided into $17 billion for Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza). U.S. President Joe Biden urged the Senate to expedite sending the aid package to his desk for signature, according to the White House.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the House's approval of the aid package for Ukraine, stating, "We hope that the bills will be supported in the Senate and sent to President Biden for consideration. Thank you, America." It has been over two months since a similar measure was taken in the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority.
U.S. officials, from Democratic President Joe Biden to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to conduct the vote. The White House stated on Friday, "The world is watching what Congress is doing. The passage of this legislation would send a strong message about the strength of American leadership at a pivotal moment. The administration urges both chambers of Congress to quickly send this supplemental funding package to the President’s desk."
Reactions:
- Israel stated that the new U.S. aid sends "a strong message to our enemies."
- European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the House's approval of a new aid program for Ukraine, supporting its war effort against Russia. Michel wrote on the platform "X": "I welcome the U.S. House vote and approval of the long-awaited vital assistance of $60 billion for Ukraine. This sends a clear message to the Kremlin: those who believe in freedom and the UN Charter will continue to support Ukraine and its people."
- Conversely, the Kremlin condemned the vote, asserting that the support "will kill more Ukrainians due to the Kyiv regime." Russian news agency TASS quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying, "The decision to provide assistance to Ukraine was expected. It will enrich the United States and destroy Ukraine by killing more Ukrainians because of the Kyiv regime."
