Aid to Kiev (finally) passes a floor in the US Senate

This Sunday, the US Senate took an important step toward approving massive new aid to Ukraine. However, handing over this eagerly awaited envelope in Kiev could face an outright refusal from Trumpist Republicans in the other chamber of Congress.

The text specifically provides 60 billion for Ukraine – which has been fighting Russian aggression since February 2022 – and 14 billion for Israel against Hamas. By collecting 67 votes for this procedural vote, the Senate indicates that it has the necessary votes for subsequent approval of this envelope.

“Ukraine is dangerously short of reserves”

The date of the next vote in the upper house is not yet known, but it could be held as early as the week. In the House of Representatives, the measure faces strong opposition from right-wing Republican elected officials. The package also includes funding for Taiwan, a strategic ally of the United States.

However, the lion’s share will go to Ukraine and help replenish its stock of munitions, weapons and other essentials as the country enters its third year of war. “Ukraine is dangerously short of reserves. “If America doesn’t send aid to Ukraine with this national security bill, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has every chance to succeed,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, warned before the vote. The elected official underscored the rare fact that the vote was held on Super Bowl Sunday, the highly popular high point of American football.

Under “Eyes of the World”.

“Today, it is no exaggeration to say that the eyes of the world are on the American Senate,” said Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republicans in the upper house. “We have not equipped the brave people of Ukraine, Israel or Taiwan with lethal weapons to win philanthropic awards (…). We do it because it is in our own interest,” he added.

Two years after the start of the Russian invasion, elected officials of the United States, Ukraine’s main military backer, have been unable to agree on the recognition of new funding. Democrats, by a large majority, are in favor. Republicans are divided between interventionist hawks, pro-Ukraine, and Donald Trump’s lieutenants, who are more isolationist. The latter has strongly criticized the continuation of American aid to Ukraine, specifically asserting that his country should not continue disbursing billions of dollars until the United States’ border with Mexico is “secured.” So the process remains fraught with difficulties for the envelope…