Republicans block Ukraine aid, cite need to bolster U.S. border

WASHINGTON — Republicans on Wednesday blocked an emergency spending bill to fund the war in Ukraine, demanding strict new border restrictions in exchange and severely jeopardizing President Joe Biden’s push to replenish the war chests of U.S. allies before the end of the year.

The failed vote highlighted waning support in the United States for continuing to fund Ukraine’s war effort at a perilous time in the conflict, with Kyiv’s counteroffensive failing to meet its objectives and Russia’s forces on the offensive. While the bill faltered over an unrelated immigration policy dispute, the resistance it has met in Congress reflects a dwindling appetite among Republicans for continuing to back Ukraine.

In the Senate, the vote to move forward on the bill was 49-51, short of the 60-vote threshold. Republicans held ranks against advancing the $ 111 billion bill, which would provide about $50 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, more for economic and humanitarian aid, and an additional $14 billion toward arming Israel in its war against Hamas. They voted no despite a series of last-ditch appeals from Democrats and an appeal by Mr. Biden, who said he was prepared to offer “significant compromises” on the border and scolded them for abandoning Ukraine in its hour of need.

The demise of the legislation in the Senate meant that Ukraine was exceedingly unlikely to be able to secure the additional U.S. aid before the end of the year and possibly beyond.

Democrats voted unanimously in favor of advancing the measure, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who normally votes with them, joined Republicans in opposition. Mr. Sanders had argued in a letter to his colleagues that it would be “absolutely irresponsible” to provide Israel with billions of dollars in unconditional military assistance, given the rising civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip. And Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, changed his vote at the end to allow him to bring up the bill again in the future.

But the path ahead for the measure was unclear. While some lawmakers are eyeing upcoming government funding deadlines in January and February as future opportunities to strike a deal, others fear that waiting months could endanger Ukraine’s war effort.

“We cannot afford delays that tell our adversaries they can just wait us out,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the chair of the Appropriations Committee, said on the Senate floor.

In a separate action, the U.S. committed to send a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti- armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, the Pentagon and State Department announced.

In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the absence of supplemental funding approval, “this will be one of the last security assistance packages we can provide to Ukraine.”