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 Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty ImagesKHARKIV, Ukraine—After months of infighting on Capitol Hill, President Joe Biden has finally been able to sign off on a huge new $61 billion military aid bill for Ukraine. Delays to the bill, which got bogged down in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, were widely blamed for impacting Kyiv's ability to defend itself from Russian advances.
After its passage last week, some members of the House waved Ukrainian flags while others cheered in celebration that Ukraine will soon receive new weapons ahead of Russia's expected counteroffensive. Signing it into law at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, Biden promised the arms shipments would begin immediately and hailed what he called "a good day for world peace."
The reaction here, near the front lines of the war, felt very different.
Read more at The Daily Beast.
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The bipartisan bill includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine; $26.4 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific region.
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The $95.3 billion measure comes after months of gridlock in Congress that put the centerpiece of President Biden's foreign policy in jeopardy.
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The overwhelming bipartisan vote for the long-stalled $95.3 billion aid package capped a tortured journey for the legislation on Capitol Hill. President Biden is expected to quickly sign it.
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Assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is paired with legislation to impose fresh rounds of sanctions on Iran and Russia and a measure that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States.
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