The US Senate on Thursday, May 4, voted for the draft state budget for the 2017 financial year, reports Ukrinform..

The bill was supported by 79 senators, 18 voted against. On the eve of the budget approved by the House of Representatives. In order for it to enter into force, it must be signed by President Donald Trump.

It is expected that the head of state will sign the document quickly, as on Friday the term of the government's authorized financing ends, after which the government "shatdown".

The total annual budget of the United States, according to the draft, amounted to 1.1 trillion dollars.

It provides, inter alia, an increase in defense spending by $ 15 billion and an additional 1.5 billion to ensure border security, primarily with Mexico.

The draft budget also includes 560 million 465 thousand dollars of foreign economic assistance for Ukraine, 150 million of which will be allocated under the "Initiative for Assistance to Ukraine in the field of security".

In December 2016, the US Congress approved the Pentagon budget for 2017, which provides for the allocation of 350 million dollars of military aid to Ukraine, which is 50 million more than in 2016.

The document provides for the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine, as well as the expansion of military assistance through the supply of technical support for the development of an integrated system for monitoring the state border of Ukraine and assistance in the training of staff officers and the highest military command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Recall, on September 22, the House of Representatives of the US Congress unanimously approved the law H. 5094 on the support of stability and democracy in Ukraine, the provisions of which provide, among other things, the possibility of transferring Ukraine's lethal defensive weapons systems.