Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives passed a crucial $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. It will return to the Senate for a second vote there as well. In addition to supplies of weapons and ammunition systems, Ukraine will also receive more than $9 billion in economic assistance in the form of “forgivable loans,” meaning they do not need to be repaid. Ukrainian soldiers are now short of ammunition and must ration artillery shells on a front line more than 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) long. The head of the Ukrainian armed forces warned that the situation on the battlefield in the east of the country has “significantly deteriorated” as Russia intensifies its armored strikes. In addition to the $61 billion for Ukraine, the package also includes $26.4 billion in military support for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian aid in Gaza, and $8.1 billion in funding for Asia-Pacific allies, including Taiwan, to “counter Communist China.” While all 210 Democrats voted in favor, Republicans were more opposed than in favor of the legislation, by a ratio of 112 to 101.
