U.S. House of Representatives approves draft defense budget, which includes $1B aid to Ukraine

Ukrinform reports this with reference to The Hill.

The chamber passed the bill with 329 votes, which provides for authorizing nearly $840 billion in defense spending for fiscal 2023. As many as 101 lawmakers voted against the measure.

A separate version of the annual defense policy bill still has to be considered in the Senate, and then both versions will be reconciled in conference committee before the bill makes its way through both chambers for final passage.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova in a Facebook post said that according to the bill, $1 billion will be allocated (an increase by $700 million) within the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

According to her, the bill also provides for combating dependence on Russian energy, which requires all major operational bases in the area of responsibility of the U.S. European Command Area to adopt plans to reduce dependence on Russian energy, and tasks the U.S. Department of Defense to fully cease the use of Russian energy sources. In addition, the Inspector General is required to oversee the use of aid to Ukraine and to report to Congress every six months, etc.