Senate passes $40 billion Ukraine aid package


The U.S. Senate has easily passed a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine.
The Senate passed the package on Thursday in a 86-11 vote after it was previously approved in the House of Representatives. It now heads to President Biden's desk, and he's set to sign it. The president originally asked for $33 billion in Ukraine aid, and he recently urged Congress to pass the bill "immediately, and get it to my desk in the next few days."
The legislation includes $9 billion to restock U.S. equipment being sent to the country amid its war with Russia, according to CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Passage of the package was delayed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who unsuccessfully pushed for it to include language creating an inspector general position that would oversee the Ukraine spending, NBC News reports. Eleven Republican senators voted against passing the bill, including Paul and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
"Help is on the way, really significant help," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) said, per the AP. "Help that could make sure that the Ukrainians are victorious."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The secret lives of Russian saboteurs
Under The Radar Moscow is recruiting criminal agents to sow chaos and fear among its enemies
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
-
Ukraine: where do Trump's loyalties really lie?
Today's Big Question 'Extraordinary pivot' by US president – driven by personal, ideological and strategic factors – has 'upended decades of hawkish foreign policy toward Russia'
-
What will Trump-Putin Ukraine peace deal look like?
Today's Big Question US president 'blindsides' European and UK leaders, indicating Ukraine must concede seized territory and forget about Nato membership
-
Ukraine's disappearing army
Under the Radar Every day unwilling conscripts and disillusioned veterans are fleeing the front
-
Cuba's mercenaries fighting against Ukraine
The Explainer Young men lured by high salaries and Russian citizenship to enlist for a year are now trapped on front lines of war indefinitely
-
Ukraine-Russia: are both sides readying for nuclear war?
Today's Big Question Putin changes doctrine to lower threshold for atomic weapons after Ukraine strikes with Western missiles
-
What would happen if Russia declared war on Nato?
In depth Response to an attack on UK or other Western allies would be 'overwhelming'