US Congress passes $13.6B in emergency aid for Ukraine and its allies

Following the House of Representatives, the US Senate passed a $1.5 trillion spending bill, which also includes $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support Ukraine and NATO's Eastern-flank allies.

The voting in the upper house of the US Congress took place late on Thursday evening, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Some 68 lawmakers supported the bill, 31 voted against. It was important to pass the document, which includes a large-scale package of funding for US government agencies, by Friday, the deadline to avoid a shutdown.

The bill, in particular, provides assistance of $13.6 billion, including more than $3 billion to support the US European Command mission, the deployment of US troops in the region, support for intelligence, strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.

The package also includes $4 billion in humanitarian support, refugee assistance, and emergency food and healthcare.

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