U.S. Senate approves $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

U.S. Senate approves $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The Senate has moved forward with a $95 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine and other US allies under siege, setting the stage for final approval by Congress.

According to a White House official, the Defense Department is ready to start delivering arms to Ukraine in the coming days, with the aim of getting long-delayed weaponry to the battlefield within weeks.

The legislation includes a provision that could lead to a US ban on the popular TikTok social media app unless its parent company, Bytedance Ltd, divests within 360 days. Bytedance has stated its intention to challenge this provision in US courts.

The Senate's advancement of the aid package comes after a six-month delay in approving the assistance requested by President Joe Biden, highlighting a growing trend of isolationism within the Republican party and casting doubt on US global strategic commitments.

The bill, which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan, received an 80-19 procedural vote in the Senate on Tuesday to limit debate, setting up a final vote by Wednesday. Republican opponents are expected to allow a vote late Tuesday evening.

Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy expressed optimism about the bipartisan support, stating that the vote "should put some wind in the sails of those on the ground, doing the fighting."

Following the House's overwhelming approval of the bill with a 311 to 112 bipartisan vote, Senate approval was considered inevitable. Speaker Mike Johnson moved forward with the legislation despite opposition from a majority of lawmakers in his own Republican party.

The aid package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, with $13 billion allocated to replenish US stockpiles for weapons already provided to Ukraine, $14 billion for US-made defense systems for Ukraine, and $7 billion for US military operations in the region. The bill also includes $9.5 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of a loan that can be fully forgiven by the president after the next election.

The legislation also allows for the confiscation of Russian dollar assets to help fund assistance to Ukraine.