US Congress negotiators set $12b for new Ukraine aid

Negotiators to a stop-gap spending bill in the US Congress have agreed to include about $12 billion in new aid to Ukraine in response to a request from the Biden administration, a source familiar with the talks said on Monday.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said the measure will also include resettlement funding for Afghan refugees.

Earlier this month, US president Joe Biden asked Congress to provide $11.7 billion in new emergency military and economic aid for Ukraine.

Congress is facing a midnight Friday deadline to pass the spending bill that also would temporarily fund a wide range of US government programs.