Top lawmakers reach deal on Ukraine aid, $1.5T spending

By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have reached a bipartisan deal to provide $13.6 billion to help Ukraine fend off its invasion by Russia and assist European allies coping with the continent’s worst refugee crisis since World War II. That money and billions more to battle the pandemic are part of a compromise on an overdue $1.5 trillion measure financing federal agencies for the rest of this year. Passage of the overall bill is certain, congressional leaders hope by week’s end. Ukraine aid has such powerful backing in Congress that the amount grew over just a few days from President Joe Biden’s initial $10 billion request.