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What did Washington's $40 billion Ukraine vote signal?
Summary
A look back at the US Senate's aid vote and Russia's warning over NATO's Nordic expansion, in the days around 20 May 2022.
What was the international picture around 20 May 2022? Two developments from the days just before that date stood out: a large US aid vote and a sharp Russian warning over NATO.
On 19 May 2022, the United States Senate voted 86–11 to pass a $40 billion package aimed at sending aid to Ukraine. The legislation was due to go to the US President, Joe Biden, for his signature.
Three days earlier, on 16 May 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin had warned that Russia would react to what he called the "expansion of military infrastructure" by NATO in Sweden and Finland. He said problems were being created for no reason at all, and that Russia would react accordingly.
Taken together, the two items showed where positions stood by 20 May 2022. In Washington, the Senate's lopsided margin put a substantial aid package on the path to becoming law. In Moscow, the president signalled that any NATO build-up in the Nordic states would draw a response.
