The US Senate has approved a defense budget of $895 billion. The draft law was supported by 85 senators, and 14 spoke against it. At least 60 votes were needed for the adoption of the document. About this informs The Hill.
Last week, the budget also won approval in the House of Representatives, where 281 congressmen voted for it, while 140 opposed it. After approval in both houses of Congress, the document was sent to US President Joe Biden for signature.
The Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, Oksana Markarova, previously noted that the approved defense budget does not provide for the extension of the Lend-Lease law aimed at supporting Ukraine in the war for democracy.
However, the document prohibits the use of budget funds for any actions that could lead to the recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
The budget also mandates the US Ministry of Defense to consider the possibility of creating a center of excellence in the development of weapons based on artificial intelligence. This center should facilitate the cooperation of the Pentagon with international partners, including Ukraine, in order to introduce modern technologies, standards and best practices.
