Several Republican senators walked out of a classified briefing on Ukraine after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy unexpectedly canceled a video-link appearance to appeal for continued US funding.
Zelenskiy was supposed to update the senators on the conflict with Russia and press for their support on an emergency aid package that includes more than $60 billion for Kyiv. The White House has warned that existing funds for Ukraine will run out by the end of the year and that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin could win the war if lawmakers fail to act.
However, the briefing turned into a war of words as Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, accused them of not being willing to discuss what it takes to get a deal done. The Republican senators left early, frustrated that they had heard nothing on their demand that Ukraine aid be coupled with action on the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border.
Senate Republicans are making their support for extra Ukraine funding contingent upon Democrats accepting reforms of the asylum system and tightened border security, measures which have already been rejected by the Democrats. Negotiations over the border security package broke down over the weekend, but talks are expected to resume this week.
The goal of the aid package is to provide additional support for Ukraine, Israel, and other needs. There is growing Republican skepticism over assistance for Ukraine, and even Republicans who support it are insisting on policy changes on the US-Mexico border as a condition for approval.
The Biden administration has sought a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other needs and has said it has slowed the pace of some military assistance to Kyiv in recent weeks to try to stretch supplies until Congress approves further funding.
Congress has allocated $111 billion to assist Ukraine, including funding for military procurement, economic and civil assistance, and humanitarian aid. However, the new package proposes an additional $61 billion for Ukraine, mainly to buy weapons from the US.
The Biden administration is urging Congress to continue to support the fight for freedom in Ukraine, but negotiations have stalled due to Republican demands for border security and asylum system reforms. Meanwhile, the GOP-controlled legislature has passed a standalone assistance package for Israel as it fights the war with Hamas in Gaza.
The White House has maintained that all the priorities must be met, but the growing unease about the death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has led Biden’s allies in Congress to push the administration to have Israel commit to reducing civilian casualties and allowing aid to Gaza before sending more military aid. Senator Bernie Sanders has also spoken out, calling it “irresponsible” to send billions in military aid to Israel without these conditions.
Overall, the situation surrounding the Ukraine aid package and the ongoing debate over border security and asylum system reforms has led to a standoff between Republican senators and the Biden administration. It remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached to secure the necessary funding for Ukraine and other priorities.