House Speaker declines
US aid package for Ukraine threatens to fail again
February 13, 2024, 4:48 a.m
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The opposition Republicans have been blocking additional billions for Ukraine for months. On Wednesday, former US President Trump put a stop to a compromise. But the Democrats’ new proposal is currently not finding a majority either.
In the USA, another billion-dollar US aid package for Ukraine and Israel could fail in Congress. Republican Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson said his chamber would not approve the current version of the Senate bill. Johnson’s reasoning was that the draft did not address “the most pressing issue facing our country” – referring to securing the US border with Mexico.
The package, with a total volume of 95 billion dollars (88 billion euros), contains military aid for Ukraine worth around 60 billion dollars (almost 56 billion euros). Israel is to be supported with 14 billion dollars (13 billion euros) in the fight against the Islamist Hamas, and further funds are earmarked for the US ally Taiwan, among others. Money for securing the US border with Mexico is not included.
The opposition Republicans have been blocking the release of further billions in aid for Ukraine for months. Many right-wing Republican hardliners are against new aid to Ukraine. The Republicans, who make up the majority in the House of Representatives, are demanding a new, strict migration policy in return for accepting the aid package.
Trump wants to use border policy in the election campaign
Last Wednesday, a legislative package with a total volume of $118 billion failed in the Senate, which, in addition to aid to Ukraine and funds for Israel, also contained more money for securing the US border with Mexico. Linking foreign aid to the issue of US border security was originally a concession from the Democrats to the Republicans. However, former US President Donald Trump, who is seeking another term in office, called for the bill to be rejected because he wants to use border policy as an election issue.
The Democrats then decided to introduce a separate bill with aid for Ukraine and Israel. The vote in the Senate was scheduled for this week.