US Politics

Biden wants more Ukraine aid. Congress won’t make it easy.

Biden wants more Ukraine aid. Congress won’t make it easy.

The push for another lethal aid package comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration alike are looking to redouble U.S. support for Ukraine as the country’s war with Russia enters a new phase in the Donbas region. The president will formally request the money next week when lawmakers return to Washington.

“I support a package to address continued research and investment and therapeutics and vaccinations that we need for Covid … but I also think it’s very important to get this aid out to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told reporters on a conference call from the Balkans, where she traveled this week alongside Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).

Murphy said he was “open to any pathway that is the fastest” to get both Ukraine aid and Covid assistance to the president’s desk. Tillis, on the other hand, said that while he supports new funding for Covid therapeutics, it shouldn’t slow down the Ukraine portion.

“If that [Covid aid] discussion is going to take a matter of weeks, we have to make a decision on Ukrainian support in a matter of hours or days,” Tillis said.

The urgency for new aid follows several lawmaker visits to the region over the two-week congressional recess. Last week, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) were the first American officials known to have traveled to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began in February.

Biden announced an additional $800 million in military aid for Ukraine on Thursday, and in doing so revealed that he has “almost exhausted” a key fund that Congress created as part of the last Ukraine package. He said he would be asking Congress for additional funding next week “in order to sustain Ukraine for the duration of this fight” and “keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption.”

The president said he wants Congress to move “quickly” on the request, but it could get slowed down if…

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Congress…