Biden signs $40 billion aid bill supporting Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden has signed the bill to provide Ukraine with military, economic and humanitarian aid totaling nearly $40 billion into law, the White House reported.

This comes after in late April, Biden asked Congress for an additional $33 billion to help Ukraine. However, lawmakers even increased the president's previous request. The aid package is now nearly $40 billion. In particular, it includes more than $18.7 billion in military and security assistance.

The document also provides nearly $8.8 billion for Ukraine's economic support fund, and another $5 billion to address the world's food shortages caused by the war.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the document on May 11. Then, on May 13, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky slowed the Senate's fast-tracking the decision. He began to insist that a special control inspector be added to the bill to introduce control over money and weapons sent to Ukraine by the United States.

On May 19, the Senate nonetheless approved the allocation of funds.

In addition, the White House has separately announced the allocation of an additional $100 million military aid package to Ukraine, which will include:

• 18 155 mm howitzers and tactical vehicles to town them;
• 3 radars;
• field equipment and spare parts.