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The invoice seeks $6bn in arms and coaching for Ukrainian forces, and $8.7bn to replenish Pentagon’s stockpiles
The US Home of Representatives has overwhelmingly accredited a mammoth $39.8 billion package deal of navy and different help to bolster Kiev in opposition to Moscow – greater than Washington spent on international support worldwide in 2019, or roughly 5% of your complete 2022 nationwide safety funds of the US.
Solely 57 Republicans rejected the measure in a Tuesday vote that happened simply hours after the textual content of the invoice was launched. To push the invoice by means of, Democrats agreed to detach it from a $10bn Covid-19 help package deal, fiercely opposed by Republicans. Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer has already promised to “transfer swiftly” to go the laws, which might convey complete US assist for Ukraine this yr to just about $54 billion.
Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) claimed that the invoice was a matter of US nationwide safety, saying that “Ukrainian persons are combating the combat for his or her democracy, and in doing so, for ours as properly.”
Critics like Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), nonetheless, argued “we will’t assist Ukraine by spending cash we don’t have.”
The lawmakers accredited much more funding than the $33 billion President Biden initially requested for. “We can not afford delay on this important warfare effort,” Biden mentioned on Monday, urging the Congress to maneuver shortly forward of a “crucial” deadline.
Whereas the invoice seeks to supply Ukraine with extra navy help to proceed its battle in opposition to Russia – authorizing extra direct transfers from US navy stockpiles – a big portion of the funds might be spent on replenishing weapons already shipped abroad, in addition to supporting different regional allies and elevated troop deployments in Europe.
At the very least $8.7 billion of the money will go to the State Division-run Financial Help Fund to assist cowl Ukraine’s funds deficit and different “emergent wants,” whereas one other $900 million is meant for neighboring states housing Ukrainian refugees. One other $5 billion might be diverted to international meals aid packages to alleviate potential disruption of provides from war-torn Ukraine and sanctions-hit Russia.
Earlier on Monday, Biden signed the ‘Ukraine Democracy Protection Lend-Lease Act Of 2022’, a WWII-era scheme to funnel weapons and different tools to the federal government in Kiev, accredited by Congress on the finish of April. Weapons despatched underneath this act are separate from the almost $4 billion in direct navy support that the US has already despatched to Ukraine for the reason that begin of Russia’s navy operation in February, and from the weapon provides approved by the brand new $40 billion package deal.
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