War in Ukraine: “We will not turn our backs on you,” US Congress passes long-awaited aid

This is the result of many months of extremely intense and painstaking negotiations in the American Congress. The United States on Tuesday accepted a gigantic package of military and economic aid to Ukraine.

The $95 billion relief plan, which includes funds for Israel, Taiwan and an ultimatum to TikTok, has received overwhelming support in the US Senate.

“Finally, finally. Tonight, after more than six months of hard work and many twists and turns, America sends a message to the world: We will not turn our backs on you,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer applauded.

President Joe Biden immediately announced that he was going to unveil the text adopted several days earlier in the House of Representatives, another component of the US Congress.

“I will sign this bill and tell the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow (Wednesday) so that we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” he said.

Zelensky is “grateful”

Congress answered the “call of history” with this legislation, which aims to “strengthen our national security and send a message to the world about the strength of American leadership,” he added in a White House press release.

On social media, his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “grateful to the US Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine.”

The funds are the result of months of bitter negotiations, the Ukrainian president’s comings and goings in Washington, and pressure from allies around the world. They even cost the Republican leader his seat.

The lion’s share goes to Kyiv, which faces a difficult battlefield situation with Russia: $61 billion is being spent on the war in Ukraine.

American military assistance, interrupted for several weeks, should resume almost immediately – within “the coming days”, a Pentagon spokesman said on Tuesday.

“Ammo”, not “our boys”

The passage of the aid plan is a relief for the Ukrainian army, which has faced shortages of recruits and ammunition amid constant pressure from Russian forces in the east.

The United States is Kyiv’s main military sponsor, but Congress has not passed a major aid package for its ally in nearly a year and a half, largely due to partisan differences.

The American President and the Democratic Party remained in support of this aid, presented as an investment in the security of the United States in the face of what they saw as Russia’s aggressive goals.

Republicans led by Donald Trump have become increasingly reluctant, and conservative House Chairman Mike Johnson has long blocked the text.

The Republican leader in Congress ultimately supported the renewal of military and economic aid, citing the following reasoning: “I would rather send ammunition to Ukraine than send our guys to fight.”

The relief plan also authorizes President Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets that will be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. An idea that is gaining popularity among other G7 countries.

Most of the envelope will also be used to resupply the US military and will be returned to weapons factories in the US.

Israel, Tik Tok, Taiwan

Other parts of the grand plan include: multibillion-dollar new military aid for Israel, which is at war with Hamas, despite international concerns about the fate of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

These funds will be used, in particular, to strengthen the Israeli missile defense shield, called the Iron Dome.

It also plans to allocate more than $9 billion to address “urgent humanitarian needs” for “vulnerable populations around the world,” especially in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.

As Joe Biden has demanded, the legislation allocates $8 billion to militarily counter China through investment in submarines and aid to Taiwan.

It also calls for a ban on TikTok in the US unless the social network cuts ties with its parent company ByteDance and China more broadly.

The video platform is accused of allowing Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million US users.

However, his potential ban risks being challenged in court.