President Biden said on Wednesday that weapons would begin to flow to Ukraine “within hours” as he signed a $95.3 billion package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, reaffirming U.S. support for Kyiv after months of congressional gridlock put the centerpiece of the White House’s foreign policy in jeopardy.
In remarks from the White House, Mr. Biden said the foreign aid package would strengthen national security.
“It’s going to make the world safer,” he said. “And it continues America’s leadership in the world, and everyone knows it.”
The Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve the package on Tuesday night after increasingly divisive politics raised questions on Capitol Hill and among U.S. allies about whether the United States would continue to back Kyiv against Russia’s military assault. The 79-to-18 vote provided Mr. Biden with another legislative accomplishment to point to, even in the face of an obstructionist House.
The Pentagon said it would rush the first $1 billion in aid to Ukraine, including shoulder-fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other air defense munitions, 155-millimeter shells, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and cluster munitions.
“In the next few hours — literally, the few hours — we’re going to begin sending in equipment to Ukraine,” Mr. Biden said.
