The leaders of the Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress, admitted that they will not approve a new military support package for Ukraine until the end of 2023
“Negotiators are still working on some issues and we hope that their efforts will allow the Senate to act quickly (…) early next year,” said Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell, in a joint statement released on Tuesday .
The White House warned on Monday that the US has the funds for just one more aid package for Ukraine this year, while the US Congress continues to block new military support for Kiev.
“We only have one envelope of aid left” before the funds dedicated to Ukraine run out, stressed the spokesperson for the US National Security Council. John Kirby declined to specify the amount of this new aid package, which is expected during the month of December.
The United States Congress has committed more than $110 billion (100 billion euros) since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, but Republican congressmen are blocking a major aid package, demanding large changes to US migration policy, including stricter measures at the border with Mexico.
A few days before the pause in work in Congress, lawmakers approved a defense budget for 2024, thus freeing up 300 million dollars (247 million euros) for Kiev, a minimal amount compared to the 61 billion dollars (56 thousand million euros) requested by the White House.
Kirby urged Congress to “act without delay” to avoid the end of aid shipments: “It is clearly in our national interest and our aid is essential so that Ukraine can continue the fight for freedom.”
US President Joe Biden “is prepared to negotiate in good faith and with commitment”, Kirby also assured.
The so-called “National Defense Authorization Law”, worth 805.8 billion euros – which applies to the current fiscal year, which began on October 1st – was approved on Thursday in the Chamber of Representatives ( lower house), after receiving the green light from the Senate on Wednesday.
However, most military aid to Kiev remains blocked in Congress, with Republicans blocking an emergency budget package sent by Biden.
This package is worth 106 billion dollars (96.4 billion euros) and includes 61 billion dollars (55.4 billion euros) for Ukraine and 15 billion dollars (13.6 billion euros) euros) for Israel, but Republicans demand the application of a more restrictive immigration policy in exchange for approval.