US Senate approves lend-lease bill to speed up arms supplies to Ukraine

The document was submitted to the US upper house by a group of Democratic and Republican lawmakers back in January. At that time, reports in the Western media about the preparation of an invasion by the Russian Federation became more frequent. It is reported by "RBC".

The bill itself proposes to expand the powers of the US president to conclude agreements with Kiev and establish arms supplies "to protect the population of Ukraine from Russian military invasion and for other purposes." If adopted, the document allows the American president to bypass bureaucratic obstacles to speed up the shipment of weapons. According to the text of the bill, cyberattacks were also equated with Russia's armed attack on Ukraine.

The completion of the extended powers of the American leader is envisaged in the event of the end of the conflict, under the concept of which the authors of the initiative mean relations between Moscow and Kiev after the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Federation in 2014. In addition, it is expected to reduce the number of Russian troops near the borders with Ukraine until March 2021.

Once approved by the Senate, the bill will be considered by the House of Representatives. If it is adopted there, then the document will be sent to the US President for signature.