US Congress passes long-awaited aid to Ukraine

(Washington) The United States on Tuesday adopted a gigantic package of military and economic assistance for Ukraine, the result of months of extremely tense and laborious negotiations in Congress.

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

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

President Joe Biden immediately announced that he was going to promulgate the text, adopted a few days earlier in the House of Representatives, the other component of the American Congress.

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

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

These funds are the result of months of extremely acrimonious negotiations, the Ukrainian president’s comings and goings in Washington, and pressure from allies around the world.

They even cost a Republican leader his job.

“Ammunition” rather than “our boys”

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

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

The adoption of this aid plan is a relief for the Ukrainian army, faced with a shortage of new recruits and ammunition, in the face of constant pressure from Russian troops in the east.

The United States is Kyiv’s main military backer, but Congress had not passed a large package for its ally in nearly a year and a half – mainly due to partisan squabbling.

The American president and the Democratic Party remained in favor of this aid, presented as an investment in the security of the United States in the face, according to them, of Russia’s aggressive aims.

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

The Republican leader in Congress ended up supporting the resumption of military and economic aid, with this justification: “I would rather send munitions to Ukraine than send our boys to fight.”

This aid plan also authorizes President Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets to be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. An idea that is gaining ground with other G7 countries.

A large part of the envelope will also be used to replenish the stocks of the American army and will return to arms factories in the United States.

Israel, TikTok, Taiwan

Among the other parts of the grand plan: new military aid of several billion dollars for Israel, at war with Hamas, despite the international community’s concerns about the fate of civilians in Gaza.

These funds will be used in particular to strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield, called “Iron Dome”.

More than 9 billion dollars are also planned to respond to the “urgent need for humanitarian aid” of “vulnerable populations around the world”, particularly in Gaza and Sudan.

As Joe Biden had demanded, this law devotes 8 billion dollars to stand up to China militarily by investing in submarines, and to help Taiwan.

It also provides for the ban on TikTok in the United States, unless the social network cuts its ties with its parent company ByteDance, and more broadly with China.

The video platform is accused of allowing Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million users in the United States.

However, its potential ban risks being challenged in court.