The American Congress voted on providing aid to Ukraine for 13.6 bn dollars.
According to Reuters, the decision was sent to the Senate, which must approve it by Friday.
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, emphasized that these funds are probably only part of a more extensive aid package. “We have to do more to help Ukraine in the next few weeks and in the long term to rebuild it,” she stated, meaning the U.S. and their allies in NATO.
The Democratic and Republican parties have come together to support the decision to help Ukraine, a rare unity for a divided Congress, Reuters reports.
“We have to put this bill on the President’s table as soon as possible to respond to the acts of aggression,” said Ken Calvert, the Republican from the Defense Subcommittee. “Failure will undoubtedly demonstrate our weakness at the international level.”
Out of this aid, over 4 bn dollars will go to Ukraine and Eastern European countries to solve the issue of 2 million refugees from our country.
Another 6.7 bn dollars will be allocated for military assistance to Ukraine and U.S. allies for the deployment of U.S. troops in the region, economic aid, and economic sanctions against Russia.
6.32 a.m. update: Congress also voted to ban Russian oil imports. 414 Congressmen voted for, 17 against (two Democrats and 15 Republicans).
The law also restricts Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization and imposes sanctions on those who violate human rights.