The US Senate backs $40 billion bill to support Ukraine

The Senate of the US Congress, following the House of Representatives, passed Bill H.R.7691 on allocating additional appropriations to Ukraine–2022, which provides about $40 billion to respond to russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The vote in the upper house took place on Thursday, Ukrinform reports.

The document was supported by 86 lawmakers, and opposed by 11 senators.

According to the latest version, the bill provides for the allocation of $40.1 billion from the US budget in the fiscal year 2022 to provide "measures in response to russia's invasion of Ukraine." Funding will come from the US Department of Justice, the Pentagon, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Health and Human Services, the State Department, USAID, the Department of Agriculture, and the US Department of the Treasury.

The bill provides, among other things, the allocation of funds for weapons and equipment, assistance to Ukrainian refugees, regulatory and technical support for nuclear energy, emergency food support, and economic assistance to Ukraine. In addition, funding is allocated for the investigation and documentation of war crimes, as well as the establishment and confiscation of property of persons involved in russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Note

On April 28, US President Joe Biden sent a proposal to Congress to approve a new package of responses to russia's aggression, which provided for the allocation of $33 billion in support of Ukraine. In the process of working on the document, lawmakers proposed in addition of it several billion for food aid and military equipment for Ukraine.

On May 10, the US House of Representatives passed Bill H.R. 7691.

In order for a document to enter into force, it must be signed by the President of the United States.