"US Officials Rally for Aid to Embattled Democracies Israel and Ukraine"

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken requested $68.3 billion in supplemental funds from the Senate Appropriations Committee to aid Israel and Ukraine in defending themselves against ongoing aggression. The funding includes $10.6 billion for Israel's defense, $44.4 billion for Ukraine's defense against Russia, and $3.3 billion for U.S. military requirements and fulfilling the Australia-United Kingdom-United States requirements. Austin emphasized the importance of supporting these democracies, highlighting the Hamas attack on Israel and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and warned that failure to support them would embolden their ruthless foes.