The US House of Representatives has approved a $61bn (£49bn) aid package for Ukraine
The vote had been delayed by Republicans for months, with some objecting to sending money overseas instead of the US-Mexico border
Ukraine, which heavily relies on Western weapons, desperately needs the aid as it struggles to fight against Russia's invasion
Ukrainian soldiers are running so low on munitions, they are having to ration shells on the battlefield
Separate votes were also held on aid packages to Israel and to Taiwan to deter Chinese aggression - all passed
The votes are a politically risky move by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to get Ukraine's aid package through
You can watch the proceedings live from Washington DC by pressing 'play' at the top of this page
The House has voted to pass a range of measures which were pegged onto the larger funding bills.
It includes new rules that could see the US ban TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sells the app.
It also includes new sanctions on China, Russia and Iran, as well as provisions to sell frozen Russian assets to generate revenue for Ukraine.
Voting has begun - stick with us while we bring you the key results.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Image source, ReutersMembers will soon vote on the mixed bag of measures, which includes a crackdown on TikTok in the US.
But how did a bill to force the sale of TikTok get looped in to a House foreign aid package?
There’s an old saying that legislation, like sausage, is something you shouldn’t watch being made.
In Saturday’s legislative sausage-making, the three key foreign aid components – military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan – are mixed in with a grab bag of other items, including a provision allowing for the confiscation of Russian assets, new sanctions on Iran, Russia and China and the TikTok measure.
The move is designed to provide a bit of a “sweetener” for members of the House who might otherwise be inclined to vote against the package.
It’s also a convenient way of forcing the Senate’s hand.
Two months ago, a large House majority passed a stand-alone measure to require the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok. That legislation has languished in the Senate since then.
By including the TikTok provision in this aid package, senators who urgently want to provide Ukraine and Israel with aid will have no choice but to also swallow the TikTok ban.
Senators may prefer a different flavour of sausage, but that’s the only one the House is serving on Saturday.
Image source, House of RepresentativesIf you're just joining us, the House of Representatives has been debating several aid packages - which includes one for long-awaited military funding for Ukraine. A series of crunch votes will get under way soon.
Just joining us? Here's what you need to know:
We'll be following proceedings and bringing you updates and analysis throughout.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Image source, ReutersToday's vote leaves Mike Johnson in a potentially perilous political situation
Since his unlikely elevation to the top job in the House of Representatives last October, Republican Mike Johnson has had to rely on Democratic support for key pieces of legislation, including funding government operations.
The House Speaker is again turning to Democrats, because he needs their help in passing today’s foreign aid package.
Democrats also provided the necessary votes earlier this week to overcome procedural obstacles to progress the legislation – a first in modern congressional history.
Johnson has said he is pushing the aid bill forward despite vocal resistance from some Conservatives because it’s the right thing to do.
It may come at a high price for him, however.
Three House Republicans are already calling for him to be ousted as Speaker. They may even force a vote on the matter next week.
Some Democrats have said they’re willing to protect the speaker in such a circumstance.
But a Republican leader relying on Democratic support to hold on to power may not be a sustainable position.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Before the House of Representatives gets to vote on the foreign aid packages, they’re currently voting on a hardline conservative immigration bill that includes new funding for border security and changes to the political asylum process.
Because Republicans were not able to agree on procedural step before this vote, passing this border bill would require a two-thirds majority in the House – a hurdle it will not clear.
It’s failure will not have an impact on the upcoming foreign aid votes.
Republicans had initially demanded that immigration reforms be linked to Ukraine aid, but conservatives – with the backing of former President Donald Trump – turned against a bipartisan package that was negotiated in the US Senate earlier this year.
Image source, House of RepresentativesRepresentative Debbie Wasserman Schultz has just spoken strongly in favour of the "long overdue" aid package for Israel, which is also set to be voted on today.
Reflecting on the events of 7 October, the former Democratic Party chair says Hamas were responsible for the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust, recounting how people were murdered, raped and kidnapped during the attack.
She says Hamas's attack amounted to "declaring war on humanity" with "maniacal terrorism".
Schultz speaks in favour of the humanitarian aid included in the package, telling the House "the Palestinian people... are also victims of Hamas".
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
The House is currently debating the various foreign aid packages, including whether to make any changes, known as amendments, to them.
Only a handful of amendments will come up for a vote later today - ones that were agreed upon by the powerful House Rules Committee late on Thursday night.
Some would effectively kill pieces of the aid package.
For instance, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has authored a change that would reduce the amount of US aid to Ukraine in the package to zero.
Another, by Kat Cammack of Florida, would eliminate all non-military support for Ukraine.
Other amendments would require the US government to issue new reports on Chinese tech companies and assets held by Iran that might be exempt from sanctions. A few uncontroversial amendments make only minor modifications to the language of the legislation, for procedural reasons.
In total, the House will vote on nine amendments, in addition to the four final votes on aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and the grab-bag package that includes forcing the sale of TikTok and confiscating Russian assets.
Image source, ReutersBarely any of Ukraine's power plants have escaped Russia's drone and missile attacks
Today marks 2 years, 1 month and 27 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In February, Ukrainian troops withdrew from the eastern town of Avdiivka, which had been besieged by Russian forces for months.
Significant territory was surrendered to Russia, and it marked a serious blow to Ukraine’s fight in the war.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the order to pull back was taken to save soldiers’ lives, and blamed faltering Western weapons supplies.
For months, while US politicians have squabbled over support for Ukraine, soldiers have struggled to defend their front lines from the Russian advance because of a shortage of shells, rockets and air defences.
Recently, Russia has increased its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Officials in Ukraine say they can "count on one hand" the thermal and hydro power plants across the country that are not yet badly damaged or totally destroyed. As Ukraine scrambles to repair what it can, and keep the electricity flowing to homes and industry, Russia's assault has not stopped.
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent
Image source, Getty ImagesThe most senior US military officer in Europe has already warned congress that Ukraine could lose the war without further American military support.
General Christopher Cavoli also warned that Russia had been faster at replacing its losses than many had expected.
The absence of US military supplies for the past six months has left Ukraine in a precarious position on the battlefield. And America is the key supplier of the ammunition Ukraine needs most – Air Defence interceptors, artillery ammunition and longer range missiles – like HIMARS.
Unlike most of Europe, the US has significant stockpiles. Transfers could likely begin soon after approval – such is the urgency of Ukraine’s needs.
The US has also been quicker at ramping up production. In contrast, Europe’s defence industry has been sluggish to respond to the additional demands.
Of the $60bn promised for Ukraine, just over a third would go towards replenishing US ammunition. Around $14bn would help Ukraine buy new weapons.
But even if the military aid is sent quickly, it could still take weeks to halt the recent Russian gains on the battlefield. And if the US military aid taps are turned back on, Ukraine still needs more troops to replace its losses - a problem it’s been just as slow to address.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Image source, ReutersIt’s taken months for Ukraine aid to get this far - a vote in the House of Representatives.
For it even to get to this point has taken a rare demonstration of bipartisan cooperation in the face of stiff resistance from a group of Conservatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has devised an unusual strategy for getting the aid package through his chamber.
By bringing separate votes on each individual piece of aid – for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan – the Republican leader is allowing individual legislators to vote against parts they don’t like, without sinking the whole package, which ultimately will be combined and sent to the US Senate for its approval.
That’s a fairly dramatic departure from normal procedure in the House of Representatives, where the speaker traditionally has a tight grip on every step of the legislative process.
Johnson’s Republicans have only the slimmest majority in the chamber, however – one that contains a handful of conservatives willing to challenge his authority at every turn.
That has turned House tradition on its head, forcing the speaker to break with convention, work with Democrats and defy members of his own party to get this legislation over the line.
Will Vernon
BBC News, Washington
Image source, ReutersFormer President Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet about the Ukraine aid bill.
He hasn’t been posting on social media or issuing any public instructions to his Republican colleagues over how to vote.
That’s unusual, especially as Trump is a well-known sceptic of international alliances in general, and of supporting Ukraine in particular.
He has often spoken warmly about Vladimir Putin and has previously said he would “end” the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours.”
Many in Europe fear that this would mean trying to force the Ukrainians into accepting an unfavourable peace deal with the Kremlin.
But Trump hasn’t opposed the Ukraine aid proposal, and has publicly stood by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who is battling to fend off a challenge to oust him over the bill.
Perhaps Trump has bigger fish to fry at the moment - namely, his New York court case, as well as three other criminal trials in the pipeline.
But there could be another reason.
Two days ago, in New York, Trump had dinner with the Polish President Andrzej Duda.
The two men are good friends and politically aligned.
It’s possible that Duda, who knows better than most the importance of supporting Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression, had a word in his ear about the Ukraine aid bill, and convinced the former President to let it pass.
Image source, House of RepresentativesMarjorie Taylor Greene, a hard-line Republican who is bitterly opposed to funding Ukraine, says the bill is about supporting the "military industrial complex", which she calls a "sick business model".
She says the southern border with Mexico is being "invaded" and the money being used to support allies overseas should be diverted to securing it.
Greene says funding Ukraine is an "American last" approach, adding Ukraine "is not even a member of Nato".
She says the US should be spending money on weapons and ammunition for itself, rather than "sending it to foreign countries".
"Shame on the American government," Greene continues, as she moves her amendment, which would kill the aid bill.
House members are now rising to speak against Greene's amendment, which will not pass today.
The debate is happening at Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
You can watch everything as it happens by pressing play at the top of the page.
And we'll have all the analysis here for you from our correspondents in Washington DC and Kyiv.
Image source, Getty ImagesRepublican hardliner Marjorie Taylor Greene has been among the most vocal opponents to funding Ukraine's war effort
Opposition from conservative Republican hardliners have blocked aid to Ukraine for months.
Some of those lawmakers have objected to sending tens of billions of dollars in aid overseas, without first passing funds for US-Mexico border security.
President Biden said in a statement on Wednesday he would sign the package into law immediately once passed by Congress "to send a message to the world - We stand with our friends".
Months of congressional impasse have already had profound effects on the battlefield.
Ukraine has found itself outmanned and outgunned and forced into retreat because of ammunition rationing and falling morale.
You can read more on the issues here.
Image source, House of RepresentativesHakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democrats in the House, says his party, President Biden and "traditional conservatives" in the Republican Party have "risen to the occasion".
"Pro-Putin extremists" have obstructed the national security interests of the American people, he adds.
Jeffries tells fellow members that they have a responsibility to push back against tyranny, totalitarianism and terror, and to stand with democracies around the world.
He also highlights the humanitarian aid included in the package being debated today.
He says Ukraine has "against all odds, continued to stand for what we as Americans believe in".
Jeffries continues: "The Ukrainian people have taught us something: in the face of a powerful military apparatus when people believe in freedom, liberty and democracy, they can overcome even the mightiest of militaries."
He ends by saying the US will stand with the Ukrainian people until victory is won.
You can watch the proceedings live by clicking the play button at the top of this page.
Image source, House of RepresentativesNancy Pelosi, the former Democratic Speaker of the House, spoke in favour of the Ukraine aid bill, and described the funding as part of a struggle between “democracy and decency” over “autocracy and evil”.
She reflected on her trip to Ukraine early in the war, and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of using "rape, kidnapping and murder as a weapon of war to demoralise the people of Ukraine".
Addressing Representatives opposed to the Ukraine funding, she said: "I fear if you choose the Putin route, you will have blood on your hands."
James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv
Without this US military package, Ukraine will lose this war.
It's a view shared by both President Zelensky and the head of the CIA, William Burns, and a forecast which has been reinforced during this recent gap in American support for Kyiv.
For a start, Europe has been unable to plug it, despite the likes of Germany and Denmark recently drawing up more multi-million-dollar offerings.
Ukrainian forces have been rationing their ammunition on the battlefield.
Russia has made the most of this time too, by capturing the eastern town of Avdiivka in February. It’s continued to use its superior numbers to push up to Chasiv Yar, a major Ukrainian supply hub.
The passing of this bill won’t be a silver bullet either.
This time last year American aid was seen as crucial to Ukraine liberating its territory.
Now, it’s to simply keep it in the fight.
Nope.
The members usually like to go back to their home states over the weekend, so this shows how important today's vote is, and how serious it’s being taken, the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith said on Americast.
Co-host Justin Webb agrees that this is highly unusual, and he can’t easily remember a time where this has happened before.
Listen to the latest episode of Americast here.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn total, the House of Representatives is considering a massive $95.3bn foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Let’s break it down:
$60.8bn(£49bn) military aid for Ukraine
This package provides weapons and other “lethal assistance” to Ukraine to help in its fight against Russia.
It will help Ukraine get hold of advanced weapons systems, and supports current US military operations in the region. It also includes cost-matching requirements from other US allies, and involves a plan for Ukraine to repay some of the aid.
Democrats and some centrist Republicans have been calling for months for Ukraine aid to be passed quickly, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken warning that if it was delayed any further, “there is a real risk it will arrive too late”.
$26.4bn to Israel
According to a summary of the bill, this funding is “to support Israel in its effort to defend itself against Iran and its proxies, and to reimburse US military operations in response to recent attacks”.
It will replenish Israel’s Iron Dome and other defensive systems.
Some Democrats don’t like the idea of giving more aid to Israel because of its military operation in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis there. To try and counter this, the package includes funding “to address humanitarian needs, including the provision of emergency food and shelter of vulnerable populations”.
$8.1bn to the Indo-Pacific region
This is mainly designed to deter Chinese aggression in the region, and its increasing military provocation against Taiwan.
There’s money for submarines, building docks and producing munitions.
You can read more about China and Taiwan in this really simple guide.
The mixed bag
This vote includes:
Whatever passes will be combined into one bill that will then have to be approved in whole by the Senate before President Biden can sign it into law.