US Aid Bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan
Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan express gratitude to the US House of Representatives for passing the aid bill, while China, Russia, and Pakistan condemn
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill providing Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan with a total of US$95 billion in aid, which was met with gratitude from the leaders of the recipient countries. Russia and China criticized the aid as harmful and selfish, respectively, while the Palestinian Authority expressed condemnation.
The bill includes aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance for conflict areas and the Indo-Pacific region. The aid packages now await approval from the U.S. Senate and President Joe Biden, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for these countries amidst international tensions and conflicts.
Key Concepts
- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan aid bill for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan totaling US$95 billion.
- Russia and China criticized the aid bill, with Russia warning of increased conflict and casualties in Ukraine.
- Leaders of recipient countries expressed gratitude for the aid, emphasizing the importance of support from the U.S. and its allies.
- The aid bill includes provisions for humanitarian assistance, security aid, and support for the Indo-Pacific region.
- The Palestinian Authority condemned the aid to Israel, warning of potential escalation in the conflict with Hamas.
- NATO and the European Union expressed appreciation for the aid to Ukraine, highlighting the importance of supporting freedom and democracy.
- The U.S. Senate and President Joe Biden must now approve the aid bill for it to take effect.
- Russian officials are considering retaliatory measures in response to the aid approval, citing concerns over U.S. interference in internal affairs.
After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support on Saturday (April 20) to provide Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan with a total of US$95 billion in aid, the leaders of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan all expressed their gratitude to the United States.
However, Russia said the aid would harm Ukraine and lead to more deaths. China has not yet responded directly to the passage of the bill but released a report the day before that said U.S. aid was “selfish, arrogant, hypocritical, and ugly” in nature. The Palestinian Authority also expressed condemnation.
The bill includes US$61 billion in aid to Ukraine, US$26 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in conflict areas such as Israel and Gaza, and US$8 billion in aid to the Indo-Pacific region. The plan is now before the U.S. Senate, which passed a similar measure two months ago and is expected to be approved next week. It will then be handed over to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Express Gratitude
After the US House of Representatives vote, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on the X platform that he was very grateful for “the decision that keeps history on the right track.” He said the U.S. House of Representatives’ action “will prevent the war from expanding, save thousands of lives, and help our two countries become stronger.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Israel aid bill.
“The U.S. Congress has just overwhelmingly passed a much-lauded aid bill that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and the defense of Western civilization. Thank you, friends; thank you, America!”. Netanyahu wrote on social media.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also thanked the U.S. House of Representatives and said he hoped the bill would soon pass the U.S. Senate “with strong bipartisan support.”
Katz also specifically thanked U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on the X platform. He wrote that he thanked them for their support and for “leading the effort to pass the Israel aid package in the House of Representatives today.”
He also wrote: “The vote to receive overwhelming bipartisan support for the Israeli aid package demonstrates the strong relationship and strategic partnership between Israel and the United States and sends a strong message to our enemies.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also expressed its gratitude to the United States. Taiwan said the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the aid bill demonstrated U.S. support for Taiwan as “rock solid.”
NATO and European Leaders Expressed Their Welcome
Leaders of NATO and the European Union also welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the much-anticipated aid bill to Ukraine on Saturday.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of an important new bill to aid Ukraine. He said this showed continued bipartisan support for Ukraine. Stoltenberg said, “Ukraine is using weapons provided by NATO allies to destroy Russia’s combat capabilities, a move that will make us all safer—Europe and North America.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel also welcomed the results of the US House of Representatives vote. She wrote on the democracy.”
European Council President Charles Michel also posted on A clear message is sent: those who believe in freedom and the UN Charter will continue to support Ukraine and its people.”
Russia: Will Hurt Ukraine
However, Russia expressed its opposition. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (April 20) that the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of a security assistance bill for Ukraine will lead to more losses and deaths in the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian news agencies quoted Peskov as saying that the decision “will make the United States richer, further destroy Ukraine, and lead to the death of more Ukrainians and the Kiev regime’s mistakes.”
The Kremlin has been mired in the conflict in Ukraine since its invasion of the country more than two years ago.
Of the nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $23 billion was used to replenish U.S. weapons, stockpiles, and facilities.
Peskov also said that provisions in the bill that would allow the U.S. government to seize seized Russian assets and transfer them to Ukraine to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction would damage the image of the United States. He said Russia would take retaliatory measures.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wrote on the social platform Telegram that the US approval of aid to Ukraine was expected and was motivated by “Russian hatred.”
“Of course, we will win, even with this bloody 61 billion. Most of these funds will be swallowed up by their greedy military-industrial complex,” Medvedev is now the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and is Russia’s most willing to speak out. One of the hawks.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan would “deepen the crisis around the world.”
Zakharova wrote on Telegram: “Military assistance to the Kiev regime is direct sponsorship of terrorist activities.”
“For Taiwan, this is interference in China’s internal affairs. For Israel, this is a direct path to escalation, causing unprecedented heightened tensions in the region.”
China: U.S. foreign aid is essentially “Hypocritical”
As of the time the media went to press, there was no direct response from China to this aid bill. But on Friday (April 19), the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a report titled “The Hypocritical Nature and the Truth of U.S. Foreign Aid.”
The first paragraph of the report says: “The United States has always regarded itself as the world’s largest foreign aid country. But in fact, United States foreign aid has always been based on maximizing U.S. interests as its fundamental starting point and goal, ignoring the needs of the majority of recipient developing countries. They are selfish, arrogant, hypocritical and ugly, wantonly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and seeking personal gains, which have a serious negative impact on world peace and development.”
Palestine: A Dangerous Escalation
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also condemned the aid plan to Israel, calling it a “dangerous escalation.” and acts of aggression that will result in more Palestinian casualties in Israel’s war against Hamas.
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