The United States adopted on Tuesday a huge package of military and economic assistance for Ukraine, the result of months of extremely tense and laborious negotiations in Congress, writes AFP, quoted by Agerpres.
The $95 billion aid plan, which includes funds for Israel, Taiwan and an ultimatum for TikTok, has received broad support in the US Senate.
“Finally, finally, finally. Tonight, after more than six months of hard work and many upheavals, America is sending a message to the whole world: we will not turn our backs on you”, applauded the head of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer.
President Biden promised to promulgate this text, adopted a few days earlier in the House of Representatives, the other component of the American Congress.
These funds are the result of months of tough negotiations, visits of the Ukrainian president to Washington and pressure from allies around the world.
They even cost a Republican leader his job.
The lion’s share goes to Kiev, which faces a complicated situation on the battlefield in front of Russia: 61 billion dollars are devoted to the war in Ukraine.
American military assistance, interrupted for several weeks, would resume almost immediately – in the “next days”, the Pentagon spokesman indicated on Tuesday.
The adoption of this aid plan is a relief for the Ukrainian army, which is facing a shortage of new recruits and ammunition in the face of constant pressure from Russian troops in the east.
The United States is Kiev’s main military backer, but Congress has not passed a major package for its ally in nearly a year and a half, largely because of partisan bickering.
The American president and the Democratic Party are very favorable to the new aid, presented as an investment in the security of the United States in the face of, according to them, Russia’s aggressive objectives.
The Republicans, led by Donald Trump, are increasingly reluctant, and the conservative head of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, blocked the text for a long time.
Mike Johnson finally came to support the financial package with this justification: “I’d rather send ammunition to Ukraine than send our boys into battle.”
This plan also authorizes President Biden to seize and sell Russian assets to be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. Idea supported by the G7 countries.
A large part of the package will, moreover, be used to restore the stocks of the American army and will return to the armament factories in the United States.
Among the other parts of the massive plan: $13 billion in military aid to the United States’ historic ally, Israel, in its war with Hamas.
These funds will serve in particular to strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield, called “Iron Dome”.
More than nine billion dollars is also earmarked to “meet the urgent need for humanitarian assistance” “for other vulnerable populations around the world,” particularly in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.
As requested by Joe Biden, this bill dedicates eight billion dollars to confront China militarily and come to the aid of Taiwan.
It also calls for a ban on the TikTok app in the United States unless the social network cuts ties with parent company ByteDance and, more broadly, with China.
The video platform is accused of allowing Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million users in the United States.
However, its potential ban risks being contested in court, AFP reminds.
Tags: Congress passes longawaited military aid Ukraine billion package includes funds Israel Taiwan
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