Senate to vote on final approval for aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan after months of delay

The Senate is set to vote on a $95 billion war aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, marking the final steps in Congress to send the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk. The aid comes at a crucial time as Ukraine faces increased attacks from Russian forces, with President Vladimir Putin gaining momentum on the battlefield.

President Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of sending much-needed air defense weaponry to Ukraine. The aid package also includes $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian relief for Gaza, as well as $8 billion to counter China in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region.

The bill has faced opposition from some conservatives who question U.S. involvement in foreign wars and argue for a focus on domestic issues like border security. However, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has made the Ukraine aid a priority, emphasizing the importance of stopping Putin’s aggression.

The aid package has broad congressional support, with bipartisan efforts to include provisions like seizing frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Iran, Russia, China, and criminal organizations. The bill also includes a provision that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake within a year.

The Senate is expected to pass the aid package, with potential votes as soon as Tuesday afternoon. The bill, which was first passed by the Senate in February, has been revised to include additional provisions to address various concerns and gain more support from lawmakers.