English Section

US lawmakers approve $45 bn aid package for Ukraine

23.12.2022 23:30
US lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a USD 45 billion aid package for Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion, news agencies reported.
Photo:
Photo:EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

The measure, part of a USD 1.66 trillion government funding bill, now goes to President Joe Biden for signing into law.

Biden has said in a statement that he will sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.

He added that the bill "will provide additional assistance to Ukraine, another demonstration of our bipartisan support for Ukraine" after a visit to Washington this week by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The planned military and economic assistance follows around USD 50 billion worth of US aid sent to Ukraine this year as well as a sweeping series of sanctions imposed on Russia by the West, the Reuters news agency reported.

The United States this week announced a new USD 1.85 billion arms package for Ukraine's defence against Russia.

According to a statement by the US Department of Defense, the new security assistance package includes a Patriot air defense system and additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), in addition to 50,000 GRAD rockets and more than 200,000 rounds of various types of ammunition.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, whitehouse.gov