US aid for Ukraine

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After months of blockade, further US billions will soon be able to flow to Ukraine after all. On Saturday, the House of Representatives gave the green light. The necessary approval of the Senate for the approximately 57 billion euros is still pending, but is considered certain, as is the support of US President Joe Biden. He praised the vote on Saturday. "At this critical turning point, they came together to answer the call of history," the President thanked.

For months, the Republicans under the leadership of former President Donald Trump had opposed the billion-dollar package. However, a change of heart became apparent last week. Mike Johnson, the Republican leader of the US House of Representatives, announced that the package would now be put to a vote.

Johnson flew to Florida especially to consult with Trump. It is not known what was discussed regarding Ukraine. However, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives is facing a revolt from the ultra-right wing of his parliamentary group over the Ukraine package and his removal from office. He has only presided over the chamber since October.

Mike Johnson, Republican leader in the House of Representatives(Bild: AP)

The approval on Saturday was by a large majority: 311 votes to 112. There was applause in the House after the vote. A number of MPs waved Ukrainian flags and shouted "Ukraine, Ukraine". They were called to order. 

A number of people gathered in front of the congress, some dressed in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. They shouted "Thank you, USA!". The demonstrator Catherine Pedersen said of the vote: "We are now standing up against Russia, China and North Korea and preventing them from plunging the world into further chaos." She went on to say that the people in Ukraine were also fighting for the USA.

Selensky thanks the USA and wants to "bring the war to a just end"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US House of Representatives and its Chairman Johnson for the decision, "which will prevent the war from spreading and save thousands and thousands of lives". "We will use American support to strengthen both our nations and bring this war to a just end. It is a war that Putin must lose," Zelensky said in his daily video address on Saturday evening, referring to the author of the war of aggression, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

The Ukraine package provides for around 23 billion US dollars (around 21.6 billion euros) to increase the US military stockpile. The money thus goes indirectly to Ukraine, as the USA usually provides the country attacked by Russia with equipment from its own stocks. The remainder is earmarked for further military support and financial aid. The latter is in the form of a loan.