U.S. President Joe Biden announced during a briefing on April 24 he had signed the foreign aid bill containing close to $61 billion for Ukraine into law, marking the final step of the legislative process.
After months of political infighting and a deteriorating situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the crucial foreign aid package on April 20, which includes $60.84 billion for Ukraine.
“It gives vital support to America’s partners so they can defend themselves from threats to their sovereignty,” Biden said, adding he would order to send weapons to Kyiv in the next few hours.
The House voted on three separate bills on April 20 granting aid to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region, which is intended to address Chinese aggression in the region. In addition to aiding Ukraine, the bills include $26.4 billion to aid Israel and $8.1 billion to be spent on Indo-Pacific security.
A fourth bill on national security priorities catered to Republican goals, including sanctions on Iran, the potential transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine, and a measure that could lead to a ban on TikTok.
The Senate then overwhelmingly approved the bill on April 23, with 79 votes in favor and 18 against.
Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder said that the flow of U.S. military assistance could resume within days following Biden’s signature.
