Even moderate Republicans only want to agree to an aid package for Ukraine in the US Senate if the Democrats tighten asylum laws. Ukraine warns that without rapid help it risks defeat in the war against Russia.
Ukraine’s defensive battle is currently in danger of being lost in the US Congress. The reason is the inability of Democrats and Republicans in Washington to agree on a new aid package for the country invaded by Russia. Both sides blame each other for the blockade. The core of the dispute is migration policy.
The aid package for Ukraine is part of a “national security supplementary budget” totaling $110.5 billion. The largest part of this, more than 60 billion dollars, goes to aid for Ukraine, while a good 14 billion in aid is to go to Israel. The assignments in Bill partially overlap. More than 43.6 billion US dollars are to be invested “in the US industrial base” in order to increase the country’s capacities in the production of weapons and ammunition and to replenish stocks – which gaps will be filled by deliveries to Ukraine and which by Deliveries to Israel are not clear from the text.
Around 14 billion are also earmarked for controlling the border with Mexico and other migration policy measures. This also includes funds intended to support “recognized arrivals and unaccompanied children,” which is met with criticism from Republicans. They want asylum laws to be significantly tightened and fewer migrants to be allowed into the country overall.
Yelling at the Senate briefing
On Tuesday, a briefing for senators about the war in Ukraine ended in a “shouting contest,” according to CNN writes. According to Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the dispute began when Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked that the border be discussed instead of Ukraine. Republican Senator Tom Cotton even yelled at one of the generals present why the army wasn’t securing the border, according to CNN. There was also trouble because no representative of the ministry responsible for border security was present.
Moderate Republican Mitt Romney called the meeting a waste of time. “We want to help Ukraine and Israel, but first Democrats have to recognize that the deal is that we stop the open border,” Romney said. On X asked he: “Is an open border more important to the Democrats than Ukraine and Israel?”
The briefing was the meeting to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj was actually supposed to be included. This was canceled without any reasons being given.
Republican senators fear their voters
According to the Washington Post “wave” the senators are heading towards failure. Although it is very likely that the Republicans will unanimously reject it, Schumer wants to have the supplementary budget voted on this Wednesday. The majority leader argues that the Republicans could introduce a border bill that corresponds to their ideas: If they could convince eleven Democratic senators, they would have the necessary three-fifths majority of 60 votes, said Schumer. This is “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
McConnell, on the other hand, is urging his Republican colleagues to “make a point” by rejecting the package, that his group insists on a “significant” change in border policy. However, the attitude towards Ukraine also plays a role in the dispute. While Democratic supporters are overwhelmingly in favor of helping Ukraine, Republicans are only a minority. Supporters of former President Donald Trump in particular reject the help. According to the Washington Post, Republican senators who are convinced of the need for the country’s support are worried that their stance could become a problem for them in the upcoming primaries.
Ukraine fears losing the war
Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak said at an event in Washington that if the US Congress does not approve the support soon, there is a “very high probability” that Ukraine will lose the war. The White House also warned Congress that money for Ukraine would run out “by the end of the year.” After Declarations According to the New York Times, however, there are voices in the US Department of Defense that contradict this representation. According to them, the $4.8 billion remaining at the Pentagon for Ukraine is enough to get through the winter.
However, there is no medium-term security. “If Republicans reject the Ukraine bill because of their disagreement over a completely different political dispute, then they will bear responsibility for the global catastrophe that will result from their political gambling,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
The Republicans know this too. However, they are not changing their stance: “I’m on board with Ukraine,” said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. It is completely clear to him that there will be war between Russia and NATO if Putin is successful with his invasion of Ukraine. But he also made Republican approval of the supplementary budget dependent on solving the security problems at the border.
US President Joe Biden called the lack of support for Ukraine “absolutely crazy” and “against US interests.” “We’ll get it done,” he promised.