Washington, 21 April 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Praise from around the western world poured in following Saturday's vote in the US House of Representatives to move a nearly $61 billion aid package to Ukraine to the Senate, where it is expected to pass and be signed by President Joe Biden.

 

Russia criticized the overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 311 to 112, saying it would make the United States richer and ruin Ukraine.

 

"The decision to provide aid to Ukraine was expected and predicted. It will further enrich the United States of America and further ruin Ukraine, it will lead to even more dead Ukrainians," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday evening, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

 

Moscow had repeatedly accused Kiev of wanting to fight with Western help until no Ukrainians were left. Western arms aid was prolonging the war, it has said.

 

In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, was very grateful to the US and thanked supporters of the bill.

 

"Thank you, America!" Zelensky wrote.

 

"I am grateful to the United States House of Representatives, both parties, and personally Speaker Mike Johnson for the decision that keeps history on the right track," Zelensky said.

 

"Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to protect it," he added.

 

Biden immediately welcomed the move: "Today, members of both parties in the House voted to advance our national security interests and send a clear message about the power of American leadership on the world stage.

 

"At this critical inflection point, they came together to answer history's call, passing urgently-needed national security legislation that I have fought for months to secure.

 

"I urge the Senate to quickly send this package to my desk so that I can sign it into law and we can quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to meet their urgent battlefield needs," Biden said.

 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wrote on X that "a major hurdle for US aid to Ukraine has been overcome."

 

She added: "The hearts of the most important Ukraine supporters are beating as one."

 

In Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was quick to praise the House vote calling the billions in military aid for Ukraine an investment in the security of NATO states.

 

"Ukraine is using the weapons provided by #NATO Allies to destroy Russian combat capabilities. This makes us all safer, in Europe & North America," he wrote on X.

 

Baltic states leaders also welcomed the House vote.

 

"Great day for the free world, great day for Ukraine," wrote Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on X. "This vote fosters security in Europe and Euro-Atlantic area. Thank you!"

 

Estonia's head of government Kaja Kallas described the approval of US aid for Ukraine as a "crucial and right decision... Hope this vote encourages all allies to look through their warehouses and do more."

 

Lithuania's head of state Gitanas Nausėda on X called the vote "a major step towards victory anda ll allies shall continue to keep supporting," added a Ukrainian flag to is post. "Support and cohesion from the West is crucial today."

 

After months of deadlock, the House of Representatives passed the bill with hefty support from Democrats.

 

Numerous Republicans voted against the aid package but were unable to prevent its approval. Still the vote could cost the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, his job as far-right Republicans loyal to former president Donald Trump opposed the Ukraine aid package.

 

There was applause in the chamber after the vote. A number of lawmakers waved Ukrainian flags and shouted "Ukraine, Ukraine." They were called to order.

 

Ukraine has been resisting the Russian invasion for more than two years. Zelensky has been pleading for more air-defence support and ammunition from Western partners as the Russians have been pushing hard at the front lines and hitting more infrastructure, including power plants.

 

The US aid package provides for around $23 billion to increase the US military stockpile. The money will therefore go indirectly to Ukraine, as the US usually provides the country with equipment from its stocks. The remainder is earmarked for further military support and financial aid, which is designed as a loan.

 

The text also states that Biden should provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missile systems as soon as is practicable.

 

Kiev has long hoped for the weapon system, whose missiles are fired from the ground at targets on the ground.

 

The House of Representatives also voted for $26 billion for Israel in the same package. On the one hand, this is intended to finance Israel's missile defence and Washington's ongoing military operations in the region. On the other hand, around $9 billion is earmarked for humanitarian aid, including for the people in the Gaza Strip.

 

Around $8 billion in support for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, a text that provides for the sale of the Chinese short video app TikTok, as well as sanctions on Iran and the confiscation of Russian assets were also approved.

 

The Senate had in fact already voted in favour of the aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan requested by Biden in February, but there was never a vote in the lower house because of an internal power struggle in the Republican Party.

 

Moscow also criticized the military aid for Israel and Taiwan.

 

"The granting of military aid by the United States to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will exacerbate global crises," said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

 

"Military aid to the Kiev regime is direct support for terrorist activities; for Taiwan - interference in China's internal affairs; for Israel - a direct path to the escalation of an unprecedented aggravation of the situation in the region."

 

In the Saturday House vote, representatives also agreed to confiscate frozen Russian assets. Peskov warned against that, saying the US will have to answer for this if it actually happens and Russia will respond. The details of the decision still need to be analysed, said Peskov.

 

The US is considered Ukraine's most important ally in its defence against the Russian invasion. Since the start of the war in February 2022, the Biden administration has provided more than $44 billion in military aid to Kiev. This is in addition to billions more in non-military financial aid.

 

According to the US government, the funds authorized by Congress have been used up, which is why the vote on new aid is of great importance.