US Senate advances bill for Ukraine aid despite opposition

Europe, News, US February 13, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Senate came a step closer to approving a $95.34 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with bipartisan support for the bill despite increasing opposition from Republican hardliners and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

In a vote conducted on February 12, 2024, the Democrat-led U.S. Senate voted 67-27 to clear the latest procedural hurdle and moved the foreign aid measure toward an ultimate vote on passage in the coming days. Among those who voted in favor of the bill were 18 Republican senators.

The voting came only a day after the Republican Presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump harshly criticized the bill on social media. Trump and some of his fellow Republican leaders argue that such massive amounts should only be given in the form of loans to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine.

The bill, which is backed by U.S. President Joe Biden, seeks $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion to support Israel in its conflict against Hamas, and $4.83 billion to bolster partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, aimed at deterring aggression by China.

Additionally, the bill also asks for $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, and other conflict zones globally.

U.S. President Joe Biden drafted the $100 billion foreign aid package in October 2023, seeking money to continue assistance for Ukraine and Israel. Republican representatives asked for amendments in the bill and used it as leverage to push the U.S. government to allocate more funds to tackle the rise in migration across the U.S.-Mexico border.

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On passing the national security supplemental, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on February 12, “If we want the world to remain a safe place for freedom, for democratic principles, for America’s prosperity, then elected leaders need to put in the work to make that happen. We need to approve the investments that ensure our people’s security, ensure the security of our partners, and prevent our adversaries from gaining an edge over us.”

He added, “The entire world is going to remember what the Senate does in the next few days. Nothing—nothing—would make Putin happier right now than to see Congress waver in its support for Ukraine. Nothing would help him more on the battlefield.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is desperately looking towards the U.S. and other Western allies for support, welcomed the U.S. Senate’s approval of the bill.

“It is necessary to maintain American support. And I am grateful to our American partners who recognize this. We cannot let Russian war and evil spread,” Zelenksyy said in a statement on his social media platforms following the voting.

The money has been reviewed as crucial for Kyiv, as it grinds toward the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. After approval from the U.S. Senate, the bill would now arrive at the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where it faces an uncertain future.

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In January 2024, Pentagon Spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder announced that the U.S. government was “out of money” to provide military assistance to Ukraine. He said that the U.S. would not be able to support Ukraine unless lawmakers approve a new aid package.

So far, The United States has provided more than $45 billion in direct aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion started in 2022. The U.S. military and humanitarian aid play a key role in funding Kyiv’s military operations against Russia.