WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — The Pentagon is ready to send an initial burst of $1 billion package of military aid to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Tuesday as the Senate began debate on long-delayed foreign aid legislation.

The decision comes after months of frustration, as Congress deadlocked over the funding, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson to assemble a bipartisan coalition and split the plan into multiple pieces to pass the bill.

The final version of the $95 billion foreign aid package including billions for Israel and Taiwan, passed the House on Saturday. Senate approval is expected either Tuesday or Wednesday.

About $61 billion of the aid is for Ukraine, to include air defense munitions and large amounts of artillery rounds that are much in demand by Ukrainian forces, as well as armored vehicles and other weapons.

The U.S. officials said some of the weapons can be delivered very quickly to the battlefront — perhaps within days — but it could take longer for other items to arrive. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the initial aid had not yet been publicly announced.

America’s infusion of weapons comes on the heels of an announcement by the U.K. on Tuesday, pledging an additional $620 million in new military supplies for Ukraine, including long-range missiles and four million rounds of ammunition.

The announcement reflects President Joe Biden’s promise Monday in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that the U.S. would send the air defense weapons once the Senate approved the bill.

The $1 billion package was first reported by Reuters.

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