USA, deadlock for aid to Ukraine

2023-12-08 15:56:03, Kosova & Bota CNA

The White House and Republicans have failed to find common ground on securing tens of billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine's fight against the Russian aggressor and Israel, which is fighting Hamas. Republicans blocked President Biden's aid request in the Senate on Wednesday. As "Voice of America" ??correspondent Patsy Widakuswara reports, Mr. Biden has hinted that he is willing to compromise on Republican demands for border security in order to get the aid package approved. But aides to the president accuse Republicans of ignoring the White House's proposal.

Footage released by the Ukrainian military shows the damage caused by a Russian attack on the southern city of Kherson on Thursday, as a proposal for aid in Kiev's fight against Kremlin aggression has been blocked by Republican senators, who are demanding tougher measures to ensure the United States border with Mexico. VOA spoke with Senator Jim Risch.

"We Republicans are very serious about closing our southern border. About 10,000 people enter the United States illegally every day. First of all, we must protect our border".

The White House says Republicans have ignored her proposal for border and immigration reform.

President Biden warned on Wednesday that if Kiev loses the war, Russian leader Vladimir Putin will go beyond Ukraine and attack a NATO member country and that the United States will be forced to intervene.

"We can have something that we are not looking for and that we do not have today. American troops fighting Russian troops. American troops fighting Russian troops if they enter other NATO countries".

President Biden has signaled that he is willing to compromise, but he says the deadline is running out. Only $4.8 billion of previous aid to Ukraine remains, with $1.1 billion to replenish stockpiles of American weapons and equipment to supply Kiev.

"If American aid is not approved, the Europeans are likely to help to some extent. The Ukrainians will have to return to a more defensive war and will likely begin to look for ways to end the conflict," says analyst Emma Ashford with the Stimson Center.

VOA asked National Security Council spokesman John Kirby if the administration would support ceasefire negotiations.

"President Zelenskyy is the one who determines how and when this war ends and under what conditions he is willing to negotiate with Mr. Putin."

Congress has limited time before the holiday season to approve $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $10 billion for Israel. European partners feel nervous.

Britain will continue to support Kiev, Foreign Secretary David Cameron told VOA on Thursday.