US House passes crucial aid deal worth $61bn for Ukraine

The House of Representatives has finally approved billions of dollars in new US military aid for Ukraine as it struggles to resist Russia’s invasion.

The much-delayed measure had vocal opponents in Congress and it took a fragile bipartisan deal to get the $61bn (£49bn) package through.

Now the focus shifts from “whether” to “when” lethal aid arrives, with reports suggesting it could begin within days.

President Joe Biden spoke of a “clear message” about US leadership abroad.

Expressing gratitude, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to protect it.”

The aid would keep the war from expanding and save thousands of lives, he added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered by saying the package would “make the United States of America richer, further ruin Ukraine and result in the deaths of even more Ukrainians”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, since when tens of thousands of people, mainly soldiers, have been killed or injured on both sides, and millions of Ukrainians have had to flee their homes.

The foreign aid package passed on Saturday also includes:

The House also passed a bill that would force the China-based owner of the TikTok social media platform to either sell its stake or face a ban in the US.

(BBC)