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STORY: The Ukrainian leader said in a statement on the Telegram app that he was grateful to close ally Britain for unveiling this week a new 500 million pound ($625 million) uplift in a defense support package for Ukraine. "Particular attention was paid to sanctions policy. It is important to expand restrictive measures against Russia and exclude the possibility of circumventing sanctions," Zelenskiy said. He said Hunt would meet Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other ministers later on Thursday.

The U.S. secretly gave Ukraine ATACMS, long range missiles that can reach deep into Russian-held areas, and U.S. officials say Ukraine used them over the last week

Calling it a "good day for America" and "a good day for world peace," President Joe Biden signed into law the $95 billion war aid measure that includes assistance for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and other allies.

Russia is closing in on outgunned Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern city of Chasiv Yar. WSJ’s Ben C. Solomon travels to the front line as Kyiv awaits critical U.S. weaponry. Photo illustration: The Wall Street Journal

STORY: A sweeping foreign aid package cleared the final hurdle in the U.S. Congress with ease late on Tuesday, to provide fresh funding to Ukraine and Israel after months of delay. The Senate approved the $95-billion package by a wide margin of 79 to 18 votes. It was a combination of four bills: $61 billion goes to defending Ukraine against Russian advances in its war. $26 billion is for Israel - as well as humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world. While some $8 billion will help Taiwan and other countries in the Indo-Pacific "counter communist China". A fourth bill was added to the package by the House of Representatives last week - to move on potentially banning the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok. Members of the House passed the combo package on Saturday, after Republicans there abruptly ended a months-long stalemate. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk. Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Tuesday's vote "an inflection point in history". "The conflicts we see right now in Europe and the Middle East and the tensions of the Indo-Pacific will go a long way in shaping the balance of power between democracy and autocracy in the decades to come and the consequences for America's long-term security will be profound." His Republican counterpart Mitch McConnell expressed regret about the delay. "For months, our friends have watched to see whether America still had the strength that won the Cold War, or the resolve that has underpinned peace and prosperity, literally for decades. Our enemies have tested whether the arsenal of democracy is in fact built to endure. Well, tonight, the Senate will send a clear message." The two leaders applauded the bipartisan effort to finally get the package passed, after strong opposition mostly from hardline Republicans with close ties to Donald Trump. The former president has been skeptical of funding Ukraine as he pushes "America First" policies. McConnell later told a news conference he believes Congress has "turned the corner on the isolationist movement." About $10 billion of the Ukraine money comes in the form of a loan, which Trump had suggested - though this bill lets the president forgive the loan starting in 2026.

The Senate has passed $95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.

UK puts defence industry on 'war footing' as it gives Ukraine US$620M in new military aid

One of the bills also includes a proposal to force a sale of TikTok or face a ban.

The legislation, which includes four bills, passed the House< over the weekend with bipartisan support. President Joe Biden urged the Senate to quickly advance the measures to his desk.

STORY: Ukraine's exhausted artillery gunners holding off Russian forces near the eastern town of Kupiansk are hoping for a lifeline. The latest U.S. aid package could be it - a potential game changer for Kyiv's forces. But it could take some time. One soldier, whose call sign is "Sailor," says a shortage of shells has reduced Ukraine's covering fire for its infantrymen - costing lives and territory. "If they had passed the aid package bill earlier, we would have lost a bit less ground. We could have maybe taken back some ground." The $61 billion aid package comes after six months of congressional wrangling. It could replenish Kyiv's critically low stocks of weaponry, and air defenses, and likely improve its chances of averting a major Russian breakthrough in the east. SAILOR: "It’s better now if we let them attack and we defend. But when the package will be a done deal and we get the shells, drones and whatever else, then we do a 180-degree turn, gather our reserve forces and attack. We’ll have our aviation with us, at it will be effective." Kyiv still faces manpower shortages on the battlefield and questions about the strength of its sprawling frontline, ahead of a potential Russian summer offensive. After months of political debate, a new faster mobilization law takes effect in May. But new civilian draftees will require months of training, which some analysts say could become a window of opportunity for Russia to exploit. Russia has been slowly advancing, with its superior troop numbers and artillery, since capturing Avdiivka in February - a long-time bastion town in the eastern Donbas region. They are now bearing down on the town of Chasiv Yar, which is located on high ground. If captured, that win would bring Moscow closer to the remaining Kyiv-held Donbas cities of Kostiantynivka, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Russian forces are able to fire 10 times more artillery rounds than Ukraine's troops. One of his generals estimates Russian forces outnumber Kyiv's troops by as much as 10 times in the east. Ukrainian positions have been pounded this year thanks to Russian air superiority - and Ukraine's dwindling defenses. One former Ukrainian defense minister said U.S.-produced F-16 fighter jets, which Kyiv expects to receive later this year, would force Russian warplanes back entirely. EU assistance from June will include a Czech-led initiative to supply some 300,000 rounds of artillery shells. A senior European security source told Reuters optimistically, that if Ukraine receives the new international assistance, the chances of averting a major Russian breakthrough over the next year are "quite high."

Despite threats from hard-line Republicans, praise from both sides of the aisle suggests his speakership is safe

Dozens of volunteers used flags to stage a flash mob in Prague on Sunday to perform the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and to suggest a possible solution through a so-called "Estonian plan." The Estonian plan stresses that Western countries can help Ukraine overcome Russia with minimal effort if they come together. Essentially, it believes that if Western countries commit to supporting Ukraine for at least 0.25% of GDP for four years, Ukraine should be able to defeat Russia. (AP video by Stanislav Hodina)

ABC News’ Jay O’Brien reports from Capitol Hill, where legislators passed the $95 billion package of aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other U.S. allies on Saturday.