US House approves major military aid package for Ukraine

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The United States House of Representatives on Saturday approved a bill clearing the way for billions of dollars in funding for Ukraine, according to Deutsche Welle.

The $61 billion (€57 billion) package, that includes economic assistance and weapons, had been delayed by Republicans for months.

It was passed with a bipartisan majority of 311-to-112 votes. The bill also allows the US to confiscate and sell Russian assets and give the money to Ukraine for reconstruction.

The bill was part of a foreign aid and arms package valued at $95 billion (€89 billion) that also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan.

It will head to the Senate next, where passage in the coming days is all but assured as Democrats hold a slight majority in the upper chamber.

US President Joe Biden praised lawmakers from both parties, saying that "at this critical inflection point, they came together to answer history's call."

"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," he added.

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