US President Joe Biden has signed legislation authorising $61bn (€57bn) in military aid for Ukraine, with the Pentagon quickly announcing a new $1bn (€935,000) package headed for Kyiv, featuring desperately needed air defence and artillery munitions.
The legislation comes after months of delay that saw Ukrainian forces run short of ammunition and suffer battlefield setbacks.
"I just signed into law the national security package that was passed by the House of Representatives this weekend, and by the Senate yesterday," Mr Biden told reporters, saying he is "making sure the shipments start right away, in the next few hours".
"It's going to make America safer, it's going to make the world safter and it continues American leadership in the world and everyone knows it," he said of the legislation.
"It gives vital support to America's partners so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty and to the lives and freedoms of their citizens," he added.
President Biden signed into law today the support package approved by Congress, which includes Ukraine aid. We completed this half-year path. Regardless of what anyone says, we are gaining the support we need to continue protecting lives from Russian attacks.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2024
Over the past few…
The Pentagon quickly announced the $1bn package for Kyiv using the new funding, including air defence munitions, artillery rounds, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System precision rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons and armored vehicles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Mr Biden for authorising the aid, saying that "the six-month journey has been overcome".
He said on social media: "No matter what anyone says, we are getting the needed support -we need it to continue to protect lives from Russian attacks.
"We will do everything to compensate for the six months that have passed in debate and doubt."
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What the US Congress passed to aid Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
China opposes Taiwan's inclusion in passed aid bill
The legislation, which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan and a potential ban on TikTok, and valued at a total of $95bn (€88bn), only passed the House of Representatives after months of acrimonious debate among politicians over how or even whether to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia's invasion, which it launched in February 2022.
A similar aid package passed the Senate in February 2024, but had been stalled in the House, while Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, heeding calls from ex-president Donald Trump and his hardline allies, demanded concessions from Mr Biden on immigration policies, before a sudden recent reversal.
Israel's foreign minister thanked the US Senate for approving military aid that he said sent a "strong message" to the country's enemies.
"I thank the US Senate for passing the Israel aid package tonight with an overwhelming bipartisan majority," Israel Katz posted on social media, adding the package was "a clear testament to the strength of our alliance and sends a strong message to all our enemies".
Mr Biden said the bill's approval showed America stands "resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression," while the Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said it sends a message that the United States "will not turn our back on you".
The Ukraine measure also allows Mr Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and provide the money to Kyiv to finance reconstruction, a move that has been embraced by other G7 nations.
The United States has been the chief military backer of Ukraine in its war against Russia, but Congress had not approved large-scale funding for its ally for nearly a year and a half.
The financing of the war has become a point of contention ahead of a presidential election in November that is expected to pit Mr Biden against Mr Trump once again.
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'Tonight, the Senate will send a clear message' - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (above)
TikTok targeted
The bill also takes aim at TikTok. It could force the platform to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a nationwide ban in the United States, where it has around 170 million users.
TikTok's CEO today vowed to fight in the courts to overturn the newly-signed law.
The legislation gives TikTok nine months to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market.
US and other Western officials have alleged the social media platform allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users. It has 170 million users in the United States alone, many of them young.
Critics say TikTok is also a conduit to spread propaganda. China and the company strongly deny the claims.
"Make no mistake, this is a ban. A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice," TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted on TikTok moments after Mr Biden signed the bill into law.
"Politicians may say otherwise, but don't get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a Tiktok ban is the ultimate goal," he said.
