Michael Gabriel Hernandez
15 March 2022•Update: 16 March 2022
WASHINGTON
US President Joe Biden signed a sweeping federal government spending bill Tuesday that includes $13.6 billion in additional funding to assist Ukraine as it defends against Russia's military operation.
The $1.5 trillion omnibus bill was passed by the Senate last Thursday and cleared the House of Representatives the day prior. In addition to averting a government shutdown by funding the government through the end of September, the package includes a broad range of spending boosts, including an estimated 6% increase for defense.
It omits, however, more than $20 billion requested by the White House to pay for additional coronavirus vaccines, including boosters and shots to address potential new variants, as well as virus treatment.
"We have made tremendous progress in our fight against COVID-19 but our work isn't done," Biden said on Twitter. "We need Congress to immediately provide $22.5 billion in emergency funding to sustain our nation's COVID-19 response."
The $13.6 billion earmarked for Ukraine includes funding for lethal and humanitarian assistance to aid the country as it fights Russian forces, and supplies Kyiv with direct economic assistance.
Efforts to increase US funding for Ukraine gained rare bipartisan traction as Russia widened its operations in recent weeks.
Russia's war on Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, has drawn international condemnation, led to financial sanctions on Moscow and spurred an exodus of global firms from Russia.
At least 691 civilians have been killed and 1,143 injured in Ukraine since the beginning of the war, according to the UN. It noted that the true toll is likely "considerably higher" due to problems in gaining information from areas with some of the fiercest hostilities.
More than 3 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.
