US Senate votes in favor of aid to Ukraine: Zelenskyy's reaction

The US Senate (the upper house of Congress) supported a bill to provide assistance to Ukraine worth about $61 billion on Tuesday, April 23 (night of April 24, Kyiv time). 79 senators voted in favor of the bill, while 18 voted against it.

This was reported by OBOZ.UA, referring to the broadcast of the Senate meeting. Now the document has to be signed by US President Joe Biden.

"The Senate has finally passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. And now it goes to the US President for his signature," Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately reacted to the decision. He thanked the Senate for approving vital assistance to Ukraine.

"Thank you to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as to all senators from both parties who voted for it. This vote strengthens America's role as a beacon of democracy and a leader of the free world," the guarantor wrote.

Zelenskyy also thanked all Americans who continue to support Ukraine and noted that he appreciates the support of US leader Joe Biden.

The latter said that he would sign a document on assistance to Ukraine on April 24, as soon as it was on his desk, so that the United States could start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week. Biden also announced an address to the American people.

"Congress has passed my legislation to strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the strength of American leadership: we stand firmly for democracy and freedom and against tyranny and oppression. This important legislation will make our country and the world safer as we stand with our friends as they defend themselves against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin," the US president said.

The voting in the Senate was not without minor issues. First, there was a vote on the amendments. However, Republican Lee's proposal to add amendments to the bill failed. Later, the Senate voted to shorten the procedure for consideration of our aid package. After that, the senators began debate. They lasted for several hours, after which it was decided that the bill did not violate any budgetary restrictions. That was the end of all procedural votes and discussions.

As a reminder, on April 20, the US House of Representatives voted on further US assistance to Ukraine and supported the bill. There were 311 votes in favor (101 Republicans + 210 Democrats) and 112 against. US President Joe Biden welcomed the adoption by the House of Representatives of bills on assistance to foreign countries, including Ukraine. He urged the Senate to pass the aid for our Armed Forces as soon as possible. Biden emphasized that it is important to start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine as soon as possible.

As reported, according to CNN, a significant part of the weapons promised by the United States to Ukraine as part of a $61 billion aid package is already in warehouses in Germany and Poland. This will significantly speed up the delivery of military aid to Ukraine.

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