US Senate approves 2023 defence budget

The respective committees of the US House of Representatives and the Senate were able to agree on the country's $847.3 billion draft defence budget for fiscal year 2023.

"We are pleased to announce that we have reached a bipartisan bicameral agreement on the national defence funding bill this year," the statement said.

According to the document, $800 million is proposed to support Ukraine next year - $500 million more than the White House had requested. Additionally, the US Department of Defence should provide Ukraine with a short- and long-term assistance plan.

The description of the document says that the USA will allocate 6bn dollars for a programme to strengthen the US military presence in Europe.

The draft document also proposed sanctions for engaging in gold and currency transactions with the Russian Federation. In addition, the ban on cooperation with the Russian government in the military sphere was extended for another five years. Once approved, the bill will be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature.