- Ban on TikTak, Sale of Russian assests and new sanctions on Iran also part of it
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The US Senate has given the green light to a substantial foreign aid bill, amounting to $95 billion, aimed at bolstering the war efforts of Ukraine and Israel.
Ukraine, currently engaged in a challenging conflict with Russia, has expressed gratitude for the move. Meanwhile, Israel, having caused over 34,000 casualties in Gaza, is strategizing an assault on Rafah to liberate hostages held by Hamas.
The aid package, which had been stalled for several months, was finally approved by the US Congress on Tuesday. This approval paves the way for Ukraine to receive much-needed funding, especially in light of Russia’s aggressive invasion and Kyiv’s dwindling military resources.
The Senate endorsed four bills, which had been passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, with a vote of 79 to 18. This decision came after House Republican leaders made an unexpected U-turn last week, permitting a vote on the $95 billion aid package. The aid is primarily intended for military support in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as US allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Senate consolidated the four bills into a single package. The largest portion of the package, $61 billion, is earmarked for urgent funding for Ukraine. A second allocation of $26 billion is set aside for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in global conflict zones. A third provision mandates $8.12 billion to counteract the influence of “communist China” in the Indo-Pacific.
A fourth component, added to the package by the House last week, proposes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok. It also includes measures for transferring seized Russian assets to Ukraine and implementing new sanctions on Iran.
President Biden has pledged to enact the measure as soon as it arrives on his desk. His administration is already in the process of assembling a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which will be the first disbursement from the newly approved bill, according to US officials.