Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful” after members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to support a nearly $61 billion foreign aid package for the war-torn country.
The bill went up for a legislative vote in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, passing 311 to 112 after being approved by Democratic and Republican politicians.
Members of the House of Representatives were seen waving Ukrainian flags in support of the country and cheering as the motion was approved.
The bill will be sent to the Democratic-majority Senate in the coming days, where it is also expected to pass. US President Joe Biden had previously promised to immediately sign the bill into law.
Representatives also approved bills to provide security assistance to Taiwan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region, foreign aid to Israel, humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza, and a measure requiring the Chinese owners of popular video app TikTok to sell their shares. Otherwise, it will face a ban in the United States within the year.
Responding to the aid funds, Zelensky wrote on
“Democracy and freedom will always be of global significance and will never fail as long as the United States helps protect it. The vital U.S. aid bill passed by the House today will stop the war from expanding, save thousands of lives, and help us Both countries have become stronger.
“Peace and security can only be achieved through strength. We hope the bill will gain support in the Senate and make it to President Biden’s desk. Thank you, America!”
Biden requested the funds in October as the country’s military supplies began to dwindle after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The invasion triggered war after years of tension between Ukraine and Russia.
The President of the United States said in a statement: “Today, members of both parties in the House of Representatives voted to advance our national security interests and send a clear message about American leadership on the world stage. They came together at this critical turning point Answer the call of history and pass the urgently needed national security legislation I have been fighting for months.
“This plan will provide critical support to Israel and Ukraine; provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and other regions affected by conflict and natural disasters around the world; and enhance security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
“This comes at a very urgent time, with Israel facing an unprecedented attack by Iran and Ukraine under continued bombardment by Russia. I want to thank Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, and the bipartisan coalition of members of the House of Representatives who voted to move our country Safety comes first. I urge the Senate to quickly get this package to my desk so I can sign it into law and we can quickly deliver weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs.”
U.S. leaders, including Biden and Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, have been urging Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson for months to bring the bill to a vote.
Hard-line Republicans have been fiercely opposed to further aid to Ukraine, with some arguing the United States cannot afford further support as the country faces a national debt of about $34 trillion. They have repeatedly threatened to expel Johnson. Johnson became speaker in October after his predecessor Kevin McCarthy was ousted by party hardliners.
Before the vote, Johnson told reporters it was “not perfect legislation” and “it’s not the legislation we would enact if Republicans were in charge of the House, Senate and White House.”
Agency’s Supplementary Report
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
