President Joe Biden signed into law an aid package on Wednesday, providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine after months of negotiations and debate. The aid package, valued at $95 billion, includes nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the package includes a provision that could potentially lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States if Chinese parent company ByteDance fails to sell it within nine months.
The signing of the aid package marked the end of tense negotiations, with personal lobbying efforts from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The House Republican conference faced internal divisions over the issue, with hardline conservatives opposing further US funding to Ukraine, putting House Speaker Mike Johnson's leadership position at risk.
President Biden had been actively advocating for aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of supporting democracy in Europe and worldwide in the face of Russia's military actions. Earlier, Biden had indicated willingness to make immigration-related concessions to secure passage of the aid bill, a move that faced opposition from some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.
The aid package received a final vote of 79-18 in the Senate, with fifteen Republicans and three Democrats voting against it. Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the Democrats who opposed the bill, cited concerns over US funding for Israel's actions in Gaza. The aid is expected to have an immediate impact on the battlefield in Ukraine, addressing ammunition shortages and supporting Ukrainian soldiers facing battlefield losses.
