By 86-11 the US Congress today approved a new aid package for Ukraine, this time worth $39.8 billion. The aim is to strengthen the defense of the allied country against Russian invasion. The bill now has to go to US President Joe Biden for sanctions.

All 11 senators opposing the latest aid package are Republicans, according to information from the US television network CBS News.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the aid package “will meet the great needs of the Ukrainian people struggling for survival”. He also criticized Senate Republicans who opposed the bill’s progress last week.

“While most senators from both parties want this package done, it’s not alarming to see a growing circle of Senate Republicans proudly oppose the Ukrainian funds,” he said. “It seems that more and more Republicans are following the same playbook as Republicans. [presidente russo, Vladimir] Putin, whom we saw used by the former president [americano Donald] Embers.”

Mitch McConnell, along with other Republican senators, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev last week, Reuters news agency reported. McConnell was pushing Republican Senator Rand Paul to end his opposition to the aid package.

Zelensky celebrated what he said was a strong sign of bipartisan support for Ukraine. Thank you for your leadership in helping us fight not only for our country but also for democratic values ​​and freedoms. We are very grateful,” he said.

“Government Continuity”

The package, approved on Thursday (19), includes US$6 billion (R$29.3 billion) for Ukraine to strengthen its armored vehicle fleet and air defense system. In addition to humanitarian aid, approximately $9 billion (R$43.98 billion) has been earmarked to assist Ukraine’s “continuity of government”.

Congress had approved nearly $14 billion for Ukraine in mid-March, a few weeks after the Russian invasion.

But the spread of fighting, which moved from the capital into eastern and southern Ukraine, prompted Biden to seek further financial support for weeks.

The US president has repeatedly expressed his desire to lead what he describes as a major battle of democracy against the authoritarian regime.

But he said the funds already earmarked to support Ukraine were running out. The US House of Representatives approved the $40 billion package last week – an amount equivalent to Cameroon’s 2020 GDP.

‘We’ll pay now or later,’ says Republican senator

Such bipartisan support is rare in a deeply divided Congress.

“As for Putin, we pay now or we pay later,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who defended the assassination of the Russian president at the start of the Ukraine conflict on Twitter.

Although initially limited to sending weapons considered defensive, Washington continued to supply the Ukrainian army with artillery, helicopters, and drones.

Ukrainian soldiers are trained to use them in the United States or third countries before returning to the front.

Another $9 billion from the latest package is aimed at helping the United States replenish its own arsenal of weapons.

The Senate also honored career diplomat Bridget Brink as the next US ambassador to Ukraine, fulfilling its traditional role as the president’s foreign ally. The position has been vacant since 2019.

*Based on information from AFP agency in Washington (USA)