Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised the Senate for passing an emergency defense spending bill on Tuesday that could provide $60 billion in funding for the fight against Russia.
“The U.S. Senate’s decision to continue support for our nation and our warriors was expected not only by our country but also by many other countries, especially those in Europe.” Zelensky wrote Posted to X (old Twitter) on Tuesday.
“The world needs American leadership to stand firm, protect lives, and defend freedom,” he continued. “This really contributes to confidence and motivation.”
The Senate passed a $95.3 emergency defense spending bill early Tuesday after an all-night filibuster by conservatives who opposed the bill.
The package also includes funding for Israel in its fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, as well as humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.
However, the fate of this bill before it is submitted to the House of Representatives remains unclear. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) on Monday said he would not bring the bill to a vote, saying it lacked the stricter border security measures that House Republicans had called for months ago.
Former President Trump and some of his Republican allies in Congress have opposed sending additional funds to Ukraine, arguing that steps should first be taken to curb illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. There is.
The Senate passage of the spending bill comes about four months after President Biden sent a request for additional aid to Ukraine to Congress and about a week after a bipartisan border security agreement collapsed over opposition from President Trump’s Republican Party. It was conducted. The package includes significant Democratic concessions on border security and would allow for aid to Ukraine.
Funding for Kiev has been stalled for nearly a year, with lawmakers divided over additional aid to Ukraine. Congress has not passed a bill with funding for the Eastern European country since Democrats passed the last of four Ukraine-related measures with a majority in late 2022.
The Pentagon warned in December that funding was running out, and last week reiterated its call for more aid.
“We no longer have the money and no authority to continue donating.” [money] to Ukraine,” said Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon spokeswoman.
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