President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the U.S. will begin sending military equipment to Ukraine in the "next few hours" after a foreign aid bill cleared its last congressional hurdle Tuesday night following a monthslong standoff in the House. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the U.S. will begin sending military equipment to Ukraine in the "next few hours" after a foreign aid bill cleared its last congressional hurdle Tuesday night 
  • Biden signed the $95 billion bill – which contains assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, including Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance for Gaza – on Wednesday
  • Tuesday night’s passage ended months of gridlock in Congress over the foreign aid, as some, particularly in the House GOP’s right flank, pushed back on the U.S. providing any additional aid to Ukraine 
  • Biden president had originally requested Congress approve more aid for the country more than six months ago and its approval on Tuesday marks a major victory for the president

Biden signed the $95 billion bill – which contains assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific allies, including Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance for Gaza – on Wednesday. The legislation would also force a ban of the social media app TikTok if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, does not divest itself. 

"It's gonna make America safer, it's gonna make the world safer, and it continues America's leadership in the world," Biden said during remarks at the White House on Wednesday, hailing it as "a good day for world peace."

The bill passed the Senate Tuesday night in a 79-18 vote after the House cleared the legislation – split up into four different bills – over the weekend. Tuesday night’s passage ended months of gridlock in Congress over the foreign aid, as some, particularly in the House GOP’s right flank, pushed back on the U.S. providing any additional aid to Ukraine. 

“For months, while MAGA Republicans were blocking aid, Ukraine has been running out of artillery shells and ammunition," Biden said on Wednesday. "Meanwhile, Putin's friends are keeping [him] well supplied -- Iran sending drones; North Korea sending ballistic missiles and artillery shells; China is providing components and know-how to boost Russia's defense production."

For months, Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned of what they described as dire consequences of abandoning Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. The president had originally requested Congress approve more aid for the country more than six months ago. Its approval on Tuesday marks a major victory for Biden and the Senate leaders. 

“The path to my desk was a difficult path. It should have been easier and it should have gotten there sooner,” Biden said. “But in the end, we did what America always does: We rose in the moment, came together, we got it done,” Biden said. 

“Now we need to move fast,” he said. 

Almost immediately after the bill’s passage, the Department of Defense on Wednesday announced a $1 billion package for Ukraine containing air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons. 

“I’m making sure the shipments start right away,” Biden said. 

Biden made the case the package is a “good investment” in America’s own security, noting the weapons going to Ukraine will replaced with weapons made in the U.S. 

“Patriot missiles made in Arizona; javelins made in Alabama; artillery shells made in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas,” Biden said. “In other words, we're helping Ukraine while at the same time investing in our own industrial base.” 

The bill also includes a provision that will allow for the seizure of Russian assets to benefit Ukraine’s rebuilding in the aftermath of Moscow’s invasion.

The president also lauded the additional aid for Israel as it fights Hamas as well as humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. Biden reiterated that his administration’s commitment to Israel’s security is “ironclad,” even as some in his party call for conditions on U.S. aid to the country as the Palestinian civilian death toll has risen and the humanitarian crisis worsened amid Israel retalitory campaign for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that left about 1,200 dead. 

“This bill includes $1 billion in additional humanitarian aid in Gaza – we’re gonna immediately secure that aid and surge it, surge it," Biden said. 

Biden also called on Israel to ensure the aid reaches Palestinians “without delay.” 

House Speaker Mike Johnson resisted putting Ukraine aid on the floor for a vote for months amid outcry from the far-right flank of his Republican conference. A group of House Republican lawmakers, led by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, are threatening to remove Johnson from his leadership role over the vote.

“History will remember this moment,” Biden said on Wednesday. 

Spectrum News' David Mendez and Justin Tasolides contributed to this report.