The United States Senate approved a new $40 billion military, economic and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, and substantial amounts of aid were also approved by the G7.
The U.S. bill received 86 votes for and 11 against. All Democrats voted in favor of the bill, while 11 Republican senators voted against. The bill will be presented to President Joe Biden for signature.
Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate “will keep its promise to be with the people of Ukraine.”
He added that the $40 billion is “ample” aid that “will meet the needs of the Ukrainian people as they struggle for survival.”
Schumer noted before the vote that, given the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia, he wanted to be able to say “the vote will be unanimous.”
“While most senators on both sides want this package to be finalized, it is more than worrying to see a growing circle of Republicans in the Senate who proudly oppose Ukraine’s funding. Two days ago, 11 Republicans voted against debating this legislation,” he said.
Schumer also specified that the opposition of the American senators regarding the “democracies attacked by authoritarianism” highlights the division within the United States, the “lack of a purpose” in itself.
U.S. officials quoted by Reuters have also announced that President Joe Biden will sign an executive order allocating additional $100 million to Ukraine.
In addition, the U.S. is actively working to organize the supply of long-range anti-ship missiles to Ukraine to lift the Black Sea blockade, officials said.
$18.4 billion in aid for Ukraine from the G7
Also on Thursday, G7 leaders approved an $18.4 billion package of financial assistance to Ukraine at a meeting in Germany. Assistance will be provided in the form of grants and loans to meet the country’s urgent financial needs.
“We have mobilized $18.4 billion in budget support … to help Ukraine reduce its funding shortfall and continue to provide basic services to the Ukrainian people,” the document signed by the G7 finance ministers read.
Speaking via video link at the meeting of the G7 finance ministers, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Smigal announced that his country’s budget deficit is about $5 billion a month.
The G7 is made up of the world’s major industrialized countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the U.S.
