Washington - A bill providing economic assistance to Ukraine and imposing sanctions over Russia's seizure of Crimea has passed a procedural vote in the U.S. Senate, U.S. media have reported.
By a vote of 78-17, the Senate laid the groundwork for debating a bill that would back a $1 billion loan guarantee for the government in Kyiv and provide $150 million in aid for Ukraine and neighboring countries.
Simultaneously, the document envisages sanctions against Russians and Ukrainians responsible for corruption, human rights abuses or undermining stability in Ukraine.
As a measure of pressure on Russia the bill envisages a ban on the participation of U.S. and foreign companies cooperating with Russia’s Rosoboronexport in U.S. government contracts.
The final vote on the bill could take place later this week.
