The Senate passed $95bn (£76.2bn) in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of delays and disputes – with Joe Biden set to sign the legislation more late.
The bill passed the Senate Tuesday evening by an overwhelming vote of 79-18, after the House approved the package on Saturday.
Once signed, the President will begin the process of sending weapons to Ukrainewho is struggling to maintain his front line against Russia.
The legislation would also send $26 billion (£20 billion) in war aid to Israel and humanitarian aid to citizens of Gaza, as well as $8 billion (£6.4 billion) to counter Chinese threats to Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.
Analysis:
What US aid for the war in Ukraine means
US officials said aid worth around $1 billion (£802,000) could be delivered shortly, with the bulk of it expected to follow in the coming weeks.
In an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that if Congress had not passed the aid, “America would have paid the price economically, politically and militarily.
“Very few things we have done have reached this level of historical significance,” he said.
On the Senate floor, Mr. Schumer said the Senate was sending a message to America’s allies: “We will stand with you.”
Mr. Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have said the consequences could be disastrous for the United States and many of its allies if Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression goes unchecked.
The two men worked with House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, to overcome seemingly intractable Republican opposition to aid to Ukraine.
The House approved the package in a series of four votes Saturday, with the Ukrainian side passing 311-112.
The $61bn (£48.1bn) for Ukraine comes as the war-torn country desperately needs new firepower and Mr Putin has stepped up his attacks.
Zelensky ‘grateful’ for US package
Ukrainian soldiers struggled as Russia took advantage of the battlefield momentum and gained significant territory.
Mr. Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday that the United States would send much-needed air defense weapons as soon as the legislation was passed.
“The president assured me that the package would be approved quickly and that it would be powerful, strengthening our air defense as well as our long-range and artillery capabilities,” Mr. Zelenskyy said in a message on X on Monday.
