US lawmakers to vote on stalled Ukraine aid package

Joe Biden has said he “strongly supports” a new $61bn (£49bn) aid bill for Ukraine, arguing it will “send a message to the world”.

The aid package is to be voted on this Saturday. 

The long-stalled measure is one of four that the House of Representatives will vote on. The legislation will also include funding for Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

Opposition from the right wing of the Republican party has seen aid for Ukraine stalled for months. 

Some of those lawmakers have sought to tie Ukraine assistance with funding for US-Mexico border enforcement.

Several Republican lawmakers, including Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene, who wants House Speaker Mike Johnson removed from his post, have already decried his plan.

With Republicans holding their smallest majority in the House in decades, Johnson may have to appeal to Democrats to get the bills passed.

In a statement after Johnson’s announcement, Biden said he would sign the bill into law immediately.

“Israel is facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine is facing continued bombardment from Russia that has intensified dramatically in the last month,” the Democratic president added.

“The House must pass the package this week and the Senate should quickly follow.”

He said the funding would also provide humanitarian aid for Gaza.