US Senate passes $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
The bill easily cleared a key procedural hurdle earlier in the day. The Senate overwhelmingly voted to advance the measure in a step hailed by the majority leader as “one of the greatest achievements the Senate has faced in years”.
“Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need,” said Chuck Schumer in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon.
“Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin,” he continued. “We are showing Putin that betting against America is always, always a grave mistake.”
The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defenses against China.
In a call on Monday, Biden informed the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that he would “move quickly” to send desperately needed military aid, including air defense weaponry, to the country after the bill’s passage by the Senate.
Much of the foreign aid section of the bill mirrors what the Senate passed in February, with the addition of a measure mandating the president seek repayment from Kyiv for roughly $10bn in economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans”, an idea first floated by Donald Trump, who was initially opposed to aiding Ukraine.
You can read more of the report by Lauren Gambino in Washington and Joan E Greve here:
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The source said the depots contained 26,000 cubic metres of fuel and that the attack caused major fires and evacuation of personnel.
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“The SBU continues to effectively destroy military infrastructure and logistics that provide fuel to the Russian army in Ukraine,” the source said.
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“These facilities are and will remain our absolutely legitimate targets.”
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A Russian deputy defence minister has been detained on suspicion of bribe-taking, the country’s top law enforcement agency has said, a rare move amid the offensive in Ukraine.
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The investigative committee reported Timur Ivanov’s detention on Tuesday without offering any details of the accusations against him, saying only that he is suspected of taking an especially large bribe – a criminal offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
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deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov is pictured in a military uniform.”,”caption”:”Russian deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov has been detained after allegedly taking a large bribe.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Alexei Nikolsky/Reuters”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies, said a report on Ivanov’s detention had been presented to president Vladimir Putin. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu had been informed in advance of his detention, he said.
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Ivanov, 48, one of 12 deputy defence ministers, was sanctioned by both the US and the EU in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. He worked in companies dealing with fuel and energy and in the Moscow regional government before joining the defence ministry in 2010. He became a deputy minister in 2016.
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Forbes magazine has listed him as one of the wealthiest men in Russia’s security structures.
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You can read more on this story here:
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Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskiy said he is “grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today”.
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In a social media post on X, Zelenskiy thanked the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell for “their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation”. He also thanked “all US Senators on both sides of the aisle who voted in favor of it”.
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I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today.
I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell @LeaderMcConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all US…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
nn”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Zelenskiy said that the vote to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan reinforced “America’s role as a beacon of democracy and the leader of the free world” and expressed appreciation for the US president, Joe Biden’s support.
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“Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defence are critical tools for restoring just peace sooner,” said Zelenskiy.
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Also, this piece by Jonathan Yerushalmy provides a handy explainer on what is in the $95bn foreign aid bill and why it has taken so long for Congress to pass it. Here is an excerpt:
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The bill allocates $60.84bn to support Ukraine in its battle to repel Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline have complained in recent months that they are completely outgunned and have been forced to ration ammunition.
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The package includes $23.2bn to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities and $11.3bn for current US military operations in the region. The US does not have troops in Ukraine, but the Pentagon has been training Ukrainian troops elsewhere in the region.
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The bill also provides more economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans”. The idea of structuring aid as a loan is a key Trump policy proposal and is supported by a number of Republicans. However, the bill contains a provision for the president to forgive the loan starting in 2026.
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You can read the full explainer here:
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It has gone 10.30am in Kyiv and in Moscow. This is our latest Guardian blog covering all the latest developments over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
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The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory.
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“Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need,” said Chuck Schumer in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon.
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“Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin,” he continued. “We are showing Putin that betting against America is always, always a grave mistake.”
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More on that in a moment, but first, here are the other latest developments:
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The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel, along with defence support to Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
-
In a call on Monday, Biden informed the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that he would “move quickly” to send desperately needed military aid, including air defence weaponry, after the bill’s passage by the Senate.
-
The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defences against China.
-
Russian missiles attacked a residential district of Kharkiv early on Wednesday, said the mayor, Ihor Terekhov. Information on casualties was being clarified, he added. Public broadcaster Suspilne said civil infrastructure had been destroyed in the assault. The air raid alert in Kharkiv region was subsequently lifted.
-
Russian authorities have arrested Timur Ivanov, a deputy defence minister, on suspicion of taking an especially large bribe. Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that both Vladimir Putin, the president, and Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, were informed. Ivanov, 48, is one of Russia’s 12 deputy defence ministers, and is under Europe and EU sanctions over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
-
Russian forces have made significant advances in a narrow corridor in eastern Ukraine, as an offensive to take territory before a fresh injection of western military aid arrives appears to be gathering pace, Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Luke Harding report. Footage from Kremlin military bloggers showed a Russian tricolour flying above the shattered village of Ocheretyne, north-west of the occupied town of Avdiivka, after advancing about 5km in 10 days.
-
Farther north, a large Russian offensive is under way to seize the town of Chasiv Yar. Ukraine’s eastern military command has said 20,000-25,000 enemy troops are trying to storm the hilltop town and surrounding districts.
-
Ukraine’s foreign ministry is suspending consular services for military-age men living abroad, except for those heading back to Ukraine, in a move designed to increase conscription. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said: “A man of conscription age went abroad, showed his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state. It does not work this way. Our country is at war.” Since Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion, men between the ages of 18 and 60 have to stay in Ukraine, with exceptions. The Eurostat database estimates about 4.3 million Ukrainians were registered in European Union countries as of January 2024, of whom about 20% are adult men – roughly 860,000 people.
-
Authorities in Ukraine’s Sumy oblast bordering Russia reported four injuries from 51 attacks by Russian forces on Tuesday.
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Emergency services in Russian-held parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region said a Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday killed four people in a car north of the town of Melitopol.
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The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
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The bill easily cleared a key procedural hurdle earlier in the day. The Senate overwhelmingly voted to advance the measure in a step hailed by the majority leader as “one of the greatest achievements the Senate has faced in years”.
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“Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need,” said Chuck Schumer in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon.
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“Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin,” he continued. “We are showing Putin that betting against America is always, always a grave mistake.”
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The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defenses against China.
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In a call on Monday, Biden informed the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that he would “move quickly” to send desperately needed military aid, including air defense weaponry, to the country after the bill’s passage by the Senate.
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Much of the foreign aid section of the bill mirrors what the Senate passed in February, with the addition of a measure mandating the president seek repayment from Kyiv for roughly $10bn in economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans”, an idea first floated by Donald Trump, who was initially opposed to aiding Ukraine.
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You can read more of the report by Lauren Gambino in Washington and Joan E Greve here:
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Key events
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Ukraine struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in overnight attack, intelligence source says
Ukraine’s SBU security service drones struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia’s Smolensk region in an overnight attack, according to a source in Ukrainian intelligence reports Reuters.
The source said the depots contained 26,000 cubic metres of fuel and that the attack caused major fires and evacuation of personnel.
“The SBU continues to effectively destroy military infrastructure and logistics that provide fuel to the Russian army in Ukraine,” the source said.
“These facilities are and will remain our absolutely legitimate targets.”
Russian missiles damaged residential buildings and injured six people in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, early on Wednesday, governor Oleh Synehubov said on Telegram reports Reuters.
The attack damaged three residential buildings, two offices, three non-residential buildings and a gas pipeline in the central district of the city, according to the governor’s statement. Synehubov said 568 windows and 33 cars were damaged.
According to Reuters, the city’s mayor, Ihor Terekhov, told Ukrainian TV that two S-300 missiles were used in the attack but did not cause significant damage to the residential areas of the city.
Russia’s RIA state news agency reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources within Russian forces, that their attack hit soldiers’ quarters in Kharkiv where Ukrainian military personnel were stationed. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.
Terekhov said the work to repair the gas pipeline continued as the city raced to restore gas supply to the impacted part of the city on Wednesday morning.
Energy sites in Russia’s western Smolensk region were in flames on Wednesday after being hit by Ukrainian drones, the governor said.
According to a report by the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency, Vasily Anokhin wrote on Telegram: “Our region was again targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks. Fires erupted following enemy attacks on civilian energy infrastructure sites.” No one was hurt, he said.
Another drone attack targeted the Lipetsk region, farther south in western Russia that houses metallurgical and pharmaceutical sites, regional governor Igor Artamonov wrote on Telegram, according to AFP.
“The Kyiv criminal regime tried to hit infrastructure in Lipetsk industrial zone,” he said, without mentioning any victims and adding that residential neighbourhoods were not targeted.
Russian minister detained after taking especially large bribe, law enforcement agency says
A Russian deputy defence minister has been detained on suspicion of bribe-taking, the country’s top law enforcement agency has said, a rare move amid the offensive in Ukraine.
The investigative committee reported Timur Ivanov’s detention on Tuesday without offering any details of the accusations against him, saying only that he is suspected of taking an especially large bribe – a criminal offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies, said a report on Ivanov’s detention had been presented to president Vladimir Putin. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu had been informed in advance of his detention, he said.
Ivanov, 48, one of 12 deputy defence ministers, was sanctioned by both the US and the EU in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. He worked in companies dealing with fuel and energy and in the Moscow regional government before joining the defence ministry in 2010. He became a deputy minister in 2016.
Forbes magazine has listed him as one of the wealthiest men in Russia’s security structures.
You can read more on this story here:
Zelenskiy thanks US Senate for approving ‘vital aid to Ukraine’
Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelenskiy said he is “grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today”.
In a social media post on X, Zelenskiy thanked the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Republican Senate leader, Mitch McConnell for “their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation”. He also thanked “all US Senators on both sides of the aisle who voted in favor of it”.
I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today.
I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell @LeaderMcConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all US…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
nn”}}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>
I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today.
I thank Majority Leader Chuck Schumer @SenSchumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell @LeaderMcConnell for their strong leadership in advancing this bipartisan legislation, as well as all US…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
Zelenskiy said that the vote to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan reinforced “America’s role as a beacon of democracy and the leader of the free world” and expressed appreciation for the US president, Joe Biden’s support.
“Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defence are critical tools for restoring just peace sooner,” said Zelenskiy.
What is the $95bn US Senate aid bill and why has it taken so long to pass?
Also, this piece by Jonathan Yerushalmy provides a handy explainer on what is in the $95bn foreign aid bill and why it has taken so long for Congress to pass it. Here is an excerpt:
The bill allocates $60.84bn to support Ukraine in its battle to repel Russia’s invasion. Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline have complained in recent months that they are completely outgunned and have been forced to ration ammunition.
The package includes $23.2bn to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities and $11.3bn for current US military operations in the region. The US does not have troops in Ukraine, but the Pentagon has been training Ukrainian troops elsewhere in the region.
The bill also provides more economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans”. The idea of structuring aid as a loan is a key Trump policy proposal and is supported by a number of Republicans. However, the bill contains a provision for the president to forgive the loan starting in 2026.
You can read the full explainer here:
In this video you can see the US Senate’s Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, laud the Senate’s “greatest achievement in years” after a $95bn foreign aid bill passes.
US Senate passes $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
The bill easily cleared a key procedural hurdle earlier in the day. The Senate overwhelmingly voted to advance the measure in a step hailed by the majority leader as “one of the greatest achievements the Senate has faced in years”.
“Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need,” said Chuck Schumer in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon.
“Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin,” he continued. “We are showing Putin that betting against America is always, always a grave mistake.”
The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defenses against China.
In a call on Monday, Biden informed the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that he would “move quickly” to send desperately needed military aid, including air defense weaponry, to the country after the bill’s passage by the Senate.
Much of the foreign aid section of the bill mirrors what the Senate passed in February, with the addition of a measure mandating the president seek repayment from Kyiv for roughly $10bn in economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans”, an idea first floated by Donald Trump, who was initially opposed to aiding Ukraine.
You can read more of the report by Lauren Gambino in Washington and Joan E Greve here:
Opening summary
It has gone 10.30am in Kyiv and in Moscow. This is our latest Guardian blog covering all the latest developments over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory.
“Today the Senate sends a unified message to the entire world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need,” said Chuck Schumer in a floor speech on Tuesday afternoon.
“Make no mistake, America will deliver on its promise to act like a leader on the world stage, to hold the line against autocratic thugs like Vladimir Putin,” he continued. “We are showing Putin that betting against America is always, always a grave mistake.”
More on that in a moment, but first, here are the other latest developments:
-
The US Senate voted resoundingly on Tuesday to approve $95bn in wartime aid for Ukraine and Israel, along with defence support to Taiwan, as a bipartisan super-majority united to send the long-stalled package to Joe Biden’s desk for signature. The final vote was 79 to 18.
-
In a call on Monday, Biden informed the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that he would “move quickly” to send desperately needed military aid, including air defence weaponry, after the bill’s passage by the Senate.
-
The legislation includes $60.8bn to replenish Ukraine’s war chest as it seeks to repel Russia from its territory; $26.3bn for Israel and humanitarian relief for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8.1bn for the Indo-Pacific region to bolster its defences against China.
-
Russian missiles attacked a residential district of Kharkiv early on Wednesday, said the mayor, Ihor Terekhov. Information on casualties was being clarified, he added. Public broadcaster Suspilne said civil infrastructure had been destroyed in the assault. The air raid alert in Kharkiv region was subsequently lifted.
-
Russian authorities have arrested Timur Ivanov, a deputy defence minister, on suspicion of taking an especially large bribe. Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying that both Vladimir Putin, the president, and Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, were informed. Ivanov, 48, is one of Russia’s 12 deputy defence ministers, and is under Europe and EU sanctions over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
-
Russian forces have made significant advances in a narrow corridor in eastern Ukraine, as an offensive to take territory before a fresh injection of western military aid arrives appears to be gathering pace, Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Luke Harding report. Footage from Kremlin military bloggers showed a Russian tricolour flying above the shattered village of Ocheretyne, north-west of the occupied town of Avdiivka, after advancing about 5km in 10 days.
-
Farther north, a large Russian offensive is under way to seize the town of Chasiv Yar. Ukraine’s eastern military command has said 20,000-25,000 enemy troops are trying to storm the hilltop town and surrounding districts.
-
Ukraine’s foreign ministry is suspending consular services for military-age men living abroad, except for those heading back to Ukraine, in a move designed to increase conscription. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said: “A man of conscription age went abroad, showed his state that he does not care about its survival, and then comes and wants to receive services from this state. It does not work this way. Our country is at war.” Since Russia’s full-scale 2022 invasion, men between the ages of 18 and 60 have to stay in Ukraine, with exceptions. The Eurostat database estimates about 4.3 million Ukrainians were registered in European Union countries as of January 2024, of whom about 20% are adult men – roughly 860,000 people.
-
Authorities in Ukraine’s Sumy oblast bordering Russia reported four injuries from 51 attacks by Russian forces on Tuesday.
-
Emergency services in Russian-held parts of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region said a Ukrainian drone strike on Tuesday killed four people in a car north of the town of Melitopol.
