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Joe Biden has yet to sign the bill
Photo Credit: IMAGO/Chris Kleponis/ IMAGO/ZUMA Wire
The US Congress passed a new aid package for Ukraine.
A good week after the House of Representatives, the other chamber of Congress, the Senate, passed the package with a volume of almost 40 billion dollars (38 billion euros) with a large majority on Thursday.
Eighty-six senators from both Democrats and Republicans voted in favor of the bill, and 11 senators voted against.
The votes against came entirely from the ranks of Republicans.
A large majority had also been achieved in the House of Representatives.
US President Joe Biden has yet to sign the bill.
In the US, there is broad support for Ukraine across party lines.
Opposition Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday aid to Ukraine isn't just "mercy."
"The future of America's security and vital strategic interests will be shaped by the outcome of this battle."
Biden hailed the decision as a clear sign to the world of how the United States stands on Ukraine.
He originally asked Congress for $33 billion.
From the package that has now been increased, around half of the total sum goes to defense.
Of this, $6 billion is earmarked for direct military aid to Ukraine.
Billions more are to be used, among other things, to replenish US stockpiles of military equipment that was sent to Ukraine.
Other funds are earmarked for, among other things, humanitarian aid for refugees from Ukraine or for people around the world who are suffering from hunger as a result of the Russian war of aggression.
The US government had previously launched several large packages of support for Ukraine.
On Thursday, the government announced further military aid of 100 million US dollars (around 94 million euros) for Kyiv from the previous money pot.
Since the beginning of the war at the end of February, the United States has promised the former Soviet republic weapons and ammunition worth around 3.9 billion US dollars (around 3.7 billion euros) or has already delivered them.
bbr/dpa/AFP