The US Senate has blocked a bill for a new billion-dollar package for Ukraine and Israel. Republicans are first calling for tougher measures on the US-Mexico border.
49 of the senators voted in favor of the bill and 51 against. As a result, President Joe Biden did not receive the necessary sixty votes to retain support.
Biden wants to support both Ukraine and Israel with an aid package of about $110 billion (€102 billion). The White House warned this week that the US is running out of money and time to help Ukraine.
Republicans want that to go hand-in-hand with major changes in border controls to Ukraine and Israel. They want to tighten restrictions on immigration along the US border with Mexico. According to them, the bill did not fulfill their demands.
0:42US Senate Blocks Billions in Aid: ‘Historic Moment’
According to Biden, Putin is receiving a ‘greatest gift’
Before the vote, Biden gave a speech urging Congress to pass the bill. He said it was “heartening” that the United States had reached a point where “Republicans in Congress are ready to give Putin the biggest gift he’s been looking for.”
The US president also said that Putin will not stop if he conquers Ukraine. According to him, after a victory in Ukraine, Russia may attack a NATO member, “American soldiers will have to fight with Russian soldiers.”
In his speech, Biden said he was willing to compromise with Republicans on other issues in exchange for support for Ukraine. He also mentioned security along the Mexican border.
Ontvang meldingen bij nieuws over de oorlog in Oekraïne
Russia hopes for a decline in Western support for Ukraine
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia is counting on a decline in Western support for Ukraine. He warned about this during a virtual meeting with G7 leaders. It is a group of seven industrialized nations, including the United States.
“Russia believes in one thing: the unity of the free world will collapse next year,” Zelensky told the crowd. “Russia believes that the United States and Europe will show weakness and not maintain their support for Ukraine at the appropriate level.”
In Europe, the support package for Ukraine is also not going well. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposes a new package of 50 billion euros.
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