Sunday 21 April 2024

US House approves long-awaited aid package to bolster Ukraine's war efforts.

Extract from ABC News 

ABC News Homepage


After stalling for months, a long-awaited aid package to support Ukraine's ongoing war efforts has finally passed the United States House of Representatives. 

It includes more than $US60 billion ($94 billion) in aid for Ukraine, as it struggles to fight off a two-year Russian invasion. 

Aid for Israel and US allies in the Indo-Pacific including Taiwan, has also been approved. 

A man sitting in a chair lifts a gavel to bang it on his desk.
House Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrat votes to push through a wide-ranging foreign aid package.(House Television via AP)

Ukraine has long called for more support, saying it's running out of air defence systems.

But the bill had been stuck for months. 

The House is controlled by Republicans, who refused to approve more foreign aid unless a deal was struck on border security. 

Some Republicans were also concerned about rising national debt.

In a rare move, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson relied on Democrat votes to get the bill through, as he went forward with the vote despite pushback from his colleagues.

The aid for Ukraine, Israel and allies in the Indo-Pacific was separated into three separate bills, and packaged with a fourth relating to a potential ban of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok

Volodymyr Zelensky sits in a brown leather chair with a Ukrainian flag behind him
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been warning his country is running low on air defences.(Supplied)

Mr Johnson said it was important the US met its international obligations.

"It's not the perfect legislation, it's not the legislation we would write if Republicans were in charge of both the House, the Senate, and the White House," he said.

"This is the best possible product that we can get under these circumstances."

Since pressing forward with the vote, some Republicans have threatened to oust Mr Johnson, who has only been House speaker since October.

But Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has voiced support for the speaker and Ukraine's war efforts.

The $US90 billion package also includes $US23 billion to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities, $US26 billion for Israel including $US9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, and $US8.12 billion for the Indo-Pacific.

The legislative package will now go to the Senate, where the Democrats have a majority. 

Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer had told senators to be ready to work over the weekend, in anticipation of the bill passing the House.

Reuters

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