On Saturday, the United States House passed a legislative package of $95 billion in economic aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This was a significant shift in position by the Republican Party, who had previously been hesitant to support Ukraine. The largest portion of the aid, $61 billion, went to Ukraine, with $26 billion designated for humanitarian aid to the citizens of Gaza in Israel. Additionally, $8.1 billion was set aside for Taiwan and other countries in the region to combat actions by China.
President Joe Biden had initially requested the funding in October due to a shortage of military products from Ukraine. Republicans had previously argued for focusing on domestic issues such as border security and national debt, but the beneficiary countries pressed for help. The approval was made possible by a change in position by the Republican Party and was met with celebrations by legislators and protesters outside the building.
In addition to the economic aid, a national security bill was also approved that includes a provision forcing the sale of the TikTok platform. The package now moves to the Senate for approval, with Biden pledging to sign it immediately. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the aid for potentially saving lives, while Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz praised the strong ties between Israel and the US. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also commended
