Zelensky: I am grateful to the US Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine
The US Senate on Tuesday passed the $95 billion emergency aid package for Ukraine, paving the way for the resumption of arms deliveries to Kiev in a few days, Bloomberg reports. The Defense Department is prepared to rapidly deliver artillery shells and air defense munitions as part of an initial $1 billion tranche of aid.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the United States would "start sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine as early as this week" after the US Senate confirmed the House's vote on long-awaited aid to Ukraine. The leader of the White House announced that he will enact the law as soon as it reaches his desk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States senators for the approved aid, but also the Americans who continue to support Ukraine. "This vote strengthens America's role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world," the leader from Kiev said.
"I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid for Ukraine today," Zelenskiy wrote on Wednesday on the X platform, formerly Twitter. According to him, "Ukraine's long-range capabilities, artillery and air defense are essential tools to quickly restore a just peace".
I am grateful to the United States Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine today.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
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…
The Biden administration is preparing the first batch of a $1 billion aid package for Ukraine, which includes vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for artillery systems, anti-tank munitions and other weapons that can be used immediately on the battlefield .
We remind that the aid package was blocked for months because the House of Representatives refused to vote on the bill on the grounds that it did not address security concerns at the US-Mexico border.
On April 20, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of a $60.8 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
The aid package includes vehicles, Stinger anti-aircraft ammunition, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155-millimeter artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank ammunition and other weapons that can be used immediately on the battlefield, the officials said on condition of anonymity.
