With intelligence officials warning that Moscow is counting on a protracted war in Ukraine to drain the determination of the US and its allies, Congress has forged ahead with overwhelming support in deepening the US’s commitment.

The House voted 368 to 57 in favour of a $39.8 billion aid package for Ukraine late on Tuesday, bringing the total US financial commitment to roughly $53 billion over two months. There was little resistance from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who had previously been critical of costly US involvement in overseas conflicts. The Senate still needs to vote on the proposal.

While Russia appeared to be nearing one of its stated aims, complete control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, top US intelligence officials said that would neither satisfy President Putin of Russia nor bring the war to an end.