Washington: The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a comprehensive spending bill to provide $13.6 billion in aid to war-torn Ukraine and its European allies under the $1,500 billion Federal Agencies Bill. Earlier, top Democratic lawmakers had to abruptly abandon their plans to induct new funds to combat COVID-19.
The Democratic Party secured funding for a number of domestic initiatives, the Republican Party boosted defense spending through the bill, and both parties contributed to the approval of Ukraine to provide funds to counter Russia’s aggression.
The help is likely to get Senate approval by the end of this week or a little later. Earlier, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi had to abandon a $15.6 billion bill to fight the global pandemic, calling the decision “heartbreaking”. It is being seen as the defeat of President Joe Biden and the party leaders’ top priority.
Joe Biden last week requested $10 billion in the military, humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine. With strong support from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, the amount reached $13.6 billion. “We are going to support them (Ukraine) against acts of tyranny, repression, violence,” Biden said at the White House.
Pelosi said she spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for 45 minutes on Wednesday and during the conversation, they discussed the necessary weapons and other aid for Ukraine. He said the two also discussed “crimes against humanity by Russian President Vladimir Putin”.
