Ukraine aid package approved in key procedural vote in US Senate

Washington:

A sweeping US foreign aid package, including $60 billion for Ukraine, passed in a key procedural vote on Sunday, although opposition from right-wing Republicans could prevent it from becoming law.

The $95 billion package includes funding for Israel’s fight against Hamas operatives and key strategic ally Taiwan, but the lion’s share goes to pro-West Ukraine as it enters its third year of war, along with ammunition and weapons. And will help in meeting other important needs.

The Senate, which has a slim Democratic majority, voted 67-27 to break a procedural hold on the bill, making it almost certain it will pass on a final simple majority vote around midweek.

It is unusual for the Senate to hold a vote over the weekend, as Sunday’s session also coincides with the all-important NFL championship game.

“I don’t remember the last time the Senate was in session on Super Bowl Sunday, but as I’ve said all week, we’re going to keep working on this bill until it’s done,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Happens.” Schumer said before the vote.

“As we speak, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has turned parts of Eastern Europe into a war zone the likes of which we have not seen in those regions since World War II,” the New York senator said.

“The only true response to this threat is for the Senate to meet it head on by passing this bill as quickly as possible.”

The aid seemed dead in the water after Republicans on Wednesday rejected an earlier version that also included many of the U.S.-Mexico border security measures they had spent months advocating for.

Under pressure from former President Donald Trump, who is running for office again and wants to exploit Joe Biden’s perceived weakness on immigration, Republicans decided instead to delay any border reform until after the November election. Would love to stop.

But Republican senators relented in a dramatic vote on Thursday after Democrats tried to completely separate Ukraine aid from the border issue.

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Before the elections, both the parties were able to agree on very few issues. However, much of the dysfunction is blamed squarely on Trump, who is almost certain to become the Republican standard-bearer in November despite losing the presidency to Biden in 2020 and being embroiled in multiple criminal charges.

Senate Republicans originally sought border security as a condition for supporting pro-Western Ukraine to fight an invasion launched by Putin in February 2022.

But Trump accused Biden of failing to resolve the border issue, and strongly cast doubt on aid to Ukraine.

The hard-fought bipartisan agreement – ​​combining funding to Ukraine and Israel with some of the toughest immigration restrictions in decades – was initially celebrated as a breakthrough on some of the most consequential issues facing the country.

However, the plan collapsed within days of its release over the weekend, as Trump warned lawmakers to reject it.

Then in a campaign speech on Saturday, he threatened to stop defending NATO countries that are behind on spending commitments, prompting Biden to criticize his “terrible and dangerous” comments and warning that Republicans would punish Putin ” Intend to give a “green light” for more war and violence. ,

Even if foreign aid moves through the Senate, it will still have to pass through the Trump-friendly House of Representatives.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has not revealed whether he would be willing to table the only foreign aid bill for a vote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the vote was a “very important first step” toward releasing more aid for his country, and a “bad day” for the Russian president.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)