US House of Representatives passes huge foreign aid package, Ukraine and Israel express gratitude, what does Russia say?

On April 20, the US House of Representatives passed a major aid package worth $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan (China) along with a bill threatening to ban TikTok.

Binh sĩ Ukraine nhận lô hàng tên lửa chống tăng Javelin do Mỹ viện trợ. (Nguồn: AP)

Ukrainian soldiers receive a shipment of Javelin anti-tank missiles donated by the US. (Source: AP)

The bulk of that money, nearly $61 billion, is earmarked to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The newly passed bill would provide nearly $14 billion to train, equip and fund the needs of the Ukrainian military.

Kiev will also receive $10 billion in “forgivable or deferred loans” to support Ukraine’s economy and budget, including the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Meanwhile, Israel will receive $13 billion in military aid amid its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The money will be used to strengthen Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.

In addition, more than $9 billion will be spent to address “urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world .” However, any direct US funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) will be prohibited.

In addition, the US will spend about $8 billion to counter China by investing in submarine infrastructure and promoting competition with Beijing's projects in developing countries.

The bill also allocates billions of dollars in arms funding to Taiwan (China).

Another bill, also passed on April 20, would force TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a ban across the United States.

On the same day, April 20, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that the US House of Representatives' approval of billions of dollars in new military aid shows strong support for Israel and "the protection of Western civilization".

At the same time, the head of the Israeli government also expressed gratitude for the above decision of the US.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz commented that the move by the US House of Representatives "sends a strong message" to the Middle Eastern country's opponents.

For his part, also on April 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the US House of Representatives' approval of a long-delayed aid package for Ukraine.

In a statement on social media, the leader emphasized: "We hope that the bill will be supported by the US Senate and sent to President Biden's desk. Thank you America!".

Responding to the decision of the US House of Representatives, on the same day, April 20, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharkova commented that Washington's provision of military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan (China) would "deepen the crisis worldwide".

Meanwhile, the Kremlin warned that the US House of Representatives' approval of a long-delayed $61 billion aid package for Kiev would result in more Ukrainian deaths.

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