The US Senate is debating an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Senators voted to limit the debate on the package, which means that its adoption will take place on Wednesday at the latest, although the final vote is possible on Tuesday night. – We must stop Vladimir Putin immediately – emphasized Senator Jeanne Shaheen in an interview with “Fakty” TVN correspondent Marcin Wrona.
The Senate easily passed the 60-vote threshold required to speed up work on the bill. 80 senators (48 Democrats and 32 Republicans) voted for the motion to limit the debate, and 19 voted against it (17 Republicans, two Democrats). The result suggests that the package will be adopted with an overwhelming majority, larger than in February, when the Senate supported a different version of the package. Then 70 senators voted for it.
Package for Ukraine in the Senate
– Today, the Senate sends a message to the world: America will always defend democracy in its hour of need. We say to our allies: we are with you. We tell our opponents: don't mess with us. We are telling the world: we will do everything possible to defend democracy and our way of life, said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer after the vote.
The vote means that the Senate has a maximum of 30 hours to end the debate and move to a vote on the adoption of the bill. According to Bloomberg and other media, this may happen earlier, on Tuesday evening or at night. This paves the way for the final conclusion of the package six months after President Joe Biden submitted it. The president announced the immediate signing of the act and the equally quick sending of the first arms package.
Leader of the Republican minority: let no one have any illusions
In his speech, Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell criticized his own party's politicians for withholding aid to Ukraine, accusing them of contributing to the deterioration of the situation on the front.
– Let no one have any illusions: the delay in supplying Ukraine with weapons (…) has undermined the prospects of defeating Russian aggression (…). I won't beat around the bush when members of my own party treat the responsibilities of American leadership so lightly. The Senate faces a test today and we cannot fail to meet it, McConnell said.
Members of both parties demand a vote on the amendments. Independent senator Bernie Sanders, who belongs to the Democratic club, reported, among others: amendments imposing restrictions on military aid to Israel. However, the adoption of any changes is unlikely because it would mean that the House would have to vote on the entire package again.
Senator Shaheen: We must stop Putin
Marcin Wrona, a correspondent of “Fakty” TVN, talked to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a representative of the Democrats, about the aid package, including support for Ukraine.
– We want to make sure that Ukraine will be able to get the help it needs. Nice to see that the Speaker (Mike Johnson – Ed.) finally did the right thing and that the House voted overwhelmingly in favor. We must support Ukrainians. We must stop Vladimir Putin immediately, we must make sure that he does not win and does not invade other countries in Europe, she emphasized.
Asked whether she expected a final vote on Tuesday, she replied that “at this point, the procedural situation is quite uncertain.” – Most people I talked to believe that the vote will take place today – she added.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Aid package
The package being considered by the Senate combines funds for military and financial aid for Ukraine (60.8 billion), Israel and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians (26 billion) and Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region (8 billion). Additionally, the bill also includes a number of potential sanctions against Russia and Iran, as well as regulations allowing the confiscation of Russian assets in the US and a law forcing the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok within 12 months.