US Senate passes $95 bln aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

The US Senate has greenlit a monumental aid package totaling $95 billion destined for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill garnered support from 79 senators while 18 dissented.

Breaking down the aid allocation, the package earmarks $60.8 billion for Ukraine, underlining a commitment to bolster the nation’s defenses. Additionally, $26.4 billion is designated for Israel, alongside humanitarian assistance for the Gaza Strip. A significant portion, $8.1 billion, is allocated for the Indo-Pacific region, aimed at countering Chinese aggression, particularly concerning Taiwan.

Moreover, the legislation entails stringent measures targeting global adversaries. It imposes heightened sanctions on Russian assets and introduces fresh sanctions on Iran. Notably, the bill sets a deadline of nine months for the Chinese firm ByteDance to divest from TikTok, under threat of the app’s expulsion from American app stores.

The bill awaits the signature of US President Joe Biden to become law, with Biden expressing eagerness to swiftly sign it into effect. “So that we can start delivering weapons to Ukraine this week,” Biden emphasized. The House of Representatives had previously approved the package on April 20, following extensive deliberation.