Ukraine Could Receive Some U.S. Aid ‘Within Days’

The Senate today overwhelmingly approved a critical procedural move to tee up the final passage of the long-stalled $95.3 billion package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Senators are expected to pass the package as early as tonight, and President Biden said he would quickly sign it.

After the bills become law, shipments of American weapons could begin flowing to Ukraine, including air-defense missiles and artillery ammunition that Ukrainian officials say are badly needed. Some of the aid could be sent from the Pentagon’s stockpiles in Germany and shipped by rail to the Ukrainian border. “We can move within days,” a Pentagon spokesman said.

The anticipated aid — the first significant new U.S. package for Kyiv in 16 months — was celebrated in Ukraine. Lawmakers in the Ukrainian Parliament held up American flags inside their chamber. Our Kyiv bureau chief, Marc Santora, talked to troops who described a teary response to the news.

“What this has done is provided a much-needed boost for the morale of both Ukrainian soldiers on the front and civilians living under the threat of near-nightly Russian drone and missile bombardments,” Marc said. However, he added, military analysts think it will take a month or two before Ukraine receives enough new supplies to change the dynamic of the war.