Ukraine dispute in the USA

New billion-euro package is “dead on arrival”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi will probably have to continue waiting for aid from the USA.(Bild: AFP)

On Sunday, the US Senate presented a new draft for an aid package for Ukraine and better protection of the US borders. The so-called National Security Supplementary Act comprises a total of 118.3 billion dollars (around 109.8 billion euros), including 60 billion dollars to support Ukraine. Will this bring a breakthrough?

This sum corresponds to the White House's request. It also includes 14.1 billion dollars in support for Israel and 20.2 billion dollars for border security, according to a summary published by the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Patty Murray.

First vote on Wednesday
The compromise negotiated by Democrats and Republicans also provides for numerous changes in immigration policy. A first vote is expected on Wednesday at the latest. It is still unclear whether the bill will receive a majority of 60 of the 100 senators in the procedural preliminary vote.

US President Joe Biden stated that he "strongly" supported the agreement. The compromise contains "the toughest and fairest border reforms in decades". Biden called on Congress to pass the bill "expeditiously" so that it could then "enact it immediately".

However, the bill - even if it passes the Senate - is likely to fail in the House of Representatives. The opposition Republicans, among whom there are many opponents of new Ukraine aid and resistance to a border compromise with the Democrats, hold the majority there.

Flow of money has dried up for weeks
Biden's Democratic Party has been battling with the Republicans in Congress for weeks over an aid package for Ukraine. In return for their agreement, the Republicans are demanding tougher measures to secure the US border with Mexico. The conservatives can block further funds for Ukraine as well as legislation on border protection with their majority in the House of Representatives.

Biden and his Democrats have come a long way towards the Republicans in negotiations on securing the border with Mexico. The conservatives are nevertheless likely to block the border protection and Ukraine package in the House of Representatives. Republican Chairman Mike Johnson had declared that a possible Senate deal would be "dead on arrival" in the House of Representatives.

Is there any hope?
On Friday, however, he rowed back slightly on Fox Business and said that he did not want to prejudge anything. Sunday night, however, Johnson shared, "I've seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected and will not come close to ending the border disaster the president has created."

Johnson wants the bill shot down:

For Ukraine, whose most important military supporter in the Russian war of aggression is the USA, a failure of the aid package would be a serious setback.