TL/DR –
Several Republican senators walked out of a classified briefing on Ukraine after a disagreement over the border crisis. The senators were expecting an update from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but he canceled his video link appearance at the last minute. The disagreement centered around emergency aid for Ukraine, which has been held up by Congress for weeks, with some Republicans demanding that any Ukraine aid be coupled with action on the immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border.
Republican Senators Walk Out of Ukraine Briefing Amid Border Crisis Dispute
A number of Republican senators exited a classified briefing on Ukraine as tensions arose over the border crisis. This occurred after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy abruptly canceled a video-link appearance aimed at securing continued US funding.
Zelenskiy intended to provide updates on the ongoing Russia conflict and rally support for a procedural vote on an emergency aid package for Kyiv worth over $60bn. The aid has been delayed in Congress for weeks, with warnings that existing funds will dry up by year-end, and potential victory for Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, if lawmakers don’t act swiftly.
A sudden issue prevented Zelenskiy from participating, leading to the briefing proceeding regardless and escalating into a heated exchange. Senate Republicans, including Utah’s Mitt Romney, vented their frustration over their demand being ignored to tie the Ukraine aid with action on the US-Mexico border immigration crisis.
Republicans are conditioning their support for additional Ukraine funding on the Democrats accepting asylum system reforms and stricter border security – measures already rejected by the Democrats. Republican senator Mitt Romney accused the briefing attendees of unwillingness to discuss the requirements for reaching an agreement.
The White House Office of Management and Budget director, Shalanda Young, expressed urgency in a Monday letter: “We are out of money – and nearly out of time.” Republicans are growing skeptical about the proposed aid package for Ukraine, and those in favor demand policy changes concerning the US-Mexico border migrant influx as a prerequisite for approval.
House speaker, Republican Mike Johnson responded by outlining his caucus’s border security demands and negating the idea of bundling Israel and Ukraine funding in the same bill. Negotiations on border security package have stalled, but are expected to recommence this week.
Previous allocations to assist Ukraine by Congress include $111bn, with almost all funds, bar about 3% of the military funding, exhausted by mid-November. The proposed new package includes an additional $61bn for Ukraine, mainly for weapon purchases, and nearly $14bn for border security, along with aid for the Asia-Pacific region and other US national security provisions.
The Biden administration has confessed to slowing down some military assistance to Kyiv to stretch supplies until further funding is approved. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized Congress’s immediate decision to either continue supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom or let Putin win.
Meanwhile, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues, Biden’s allies in Congress are urging the administration to make Israel commit to reducing civilian casualties and providing aid to Gaza before sending more military aid. Senator Bernie Sanders warned that sending billions in military aid to Israel without such conditions would be “irresponsible”.
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