WASHINGTON: US lawmakers on Tuesday voted to send a $40 billion aid package Ukraine As Washington warned, Russia is likely to have a prolonged conflict with its neighbor.
Defense, humanitarian and economic funding passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 57 to 368, with leaders of both parties already in agreement on the details, and it will likely pass the Senate by the end of the week or next week. will do it.
All dissenting votes came from Republican ranks.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues ahead of the vote, “With this aid package, America has sent a wonderful message to the world about our unwavering determination to stand with the courageous people of Ukraine until victory is achieved.” ”
Congressional leaders struck a deal Monday that released $6.8 billion, more than the $33 billion previously requested by the White House to help protect the eastern European nation from an invasion of Moscow.
The financial stimulus includes an additional $3.4 billion for both military and humanitarian aid on top of funding requested by the administration.
If the package passes the Senate as expected, US spending to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression and address the impending humanitarian crisis would increase to nearly $54 billion.
The action comes as a top US official warned that the Russian president Vladimir Putin Preparing for a long war that could not end with the Russian victory in the East.
“We assess that President Putin is preparing for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, during which he still intends to achieve targets beyond the Donbass,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a hearing on Capitol Hill. Huh.”
He said Putin was counting on the US and EU’s resolve to weaken because of the conflict causing food shortages and rising inflation, including on energy prices.
The Democratic leadership had hoped to tie Ukraine’s money to $10 billion in new funding for COVID-19 tests, therapeutics and vaccines, with the United States experiencing a new spike in cases as it nears a million deaths. Is.
But they decided against the move as they were unwilling to engage in another fight over border control.
Republicans halted the Covid aid package last month, seeking an amendment vote to keep Title 42, a pandemic-related provision allowing asylum requests to be denied and expedited removal of migrants.
With the policy expiring on May 23, Democrats are reluctant to allow the vote, as many of their moderate lawmakers, and in tough re-election fights, are likely to vote with Republicans.
President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday it was ready to accept Ukraine and COVID’s aid with “approximately 10 days” until the current funding for Kyiv runs out.
Two Senators — Republican Lindsay graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal – unveiled a resolution Tuesday calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
“If there is anyone who embodies terrorism, authoritarianism and torture, it is Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal told a news conference.
The White House and the State Department have resisted calls to add Russia to the list, which currently includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, because Russia is already facing many consequences. A terrorist would bring the sponsor designation.
Graham said, however, that the label would clarify how much the United States supports Ukraine in its effort to repel Russian aggression.
Defense, humanitarian and economic funding passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 57 to 368, with leaders of both parties already in agreement on the details, and it will likely pass the Senate by the end of the week or next week. will do it.
All dissenting votes came from Republican ranks.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told her Democratic colleagues ahead of the vote, “With this aid package, America has sent a wonderful message to the world about our unwavering determination to stand with the courageous people of Ukraine until victory is achieved.” ”
Congressional leaders struck a deal Monday that released $6.8 billion, more than the $33 billion previously requested by the White House to help protect the eastern European nation from an invasion of Moscow.
The financial stimulus includes an additional $3.4 billion for both military and humanitarian aid on top of funding requested by the administration.
If the package passes the Senate as expected, US spending to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian aggression and address the impending humanitarian crisis would increase to nearly $54 billion.
The action comes as a top US official warned that the Russian president Vladimir Putin Preparing for a long war that could not end with the Russian victory in the East.
“We assess that President Putin is preparing for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, during which he still intends to achieve targets beyond the Donbass,” Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a hearing on Capitol Hill. Huh.”
He said Putin was counting on the US and EU’s resolve to weaken because of the conflict causing food shortages and rising inflation, including on energy prices.
The Democratic leadership had hoped to tie Ukraine’s money to $10 billion in new funding for COVID-19 tests, therapeutics and vaccines, with the United States experiencing a new spike in cases as it nears a million deaths. Is.
But they decided against the move as they were unwilling to engage in another fight over border control.
Republicans halted the Covid aid package last month, seeking an amendment vote to keep Title 42, a pandemic-related provision allowing asylum requests to be denied and expedited removal of migrants.
With the policy expiring on May 23, Democrats are reluctant to allow the vote, as many of their moderate lawmakers, and in tough re-election fights, are likely to vote with Republicans.
President Joe Biden said in a statement on Monday it was ready to accept Ukraine and COVID’s aid with “approximately 10 days” until the current funding for Kyiv runs out.
Two Senators — Republican Lindsay graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal – unveiled a resolution Tuesday calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.
“If there is anyone who embodies terrorism, authoritarianism and torture, it is Vladimir Putin,” Blumenthal told a news conference.
The White House and the State Department have resisted calls to add Russia to the list, which currently includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, because Russia is already facing many consequences. A terrorist would bring the sponsor designation.
Graham said, however, that the label would clarify how much the United States supports Ukraine in its effort to repel Russian aggression.