Democrats’ leader in Senate says negotiators inching toward approving Ukraine aid

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers get "a little closer" each day to approving continued funding to Ukraine.

This was reported by the Voice of America, Ukrinform saw.

Right now, Senate negotiators on both sides are working furiously to approve another round of Ukraine aid by finalizing our national security supplemental package. Each day we get a little closer but there are still issues to be resolved. But one thing is certain: we’re going to keep going to get this done,” Senator Schumer said.

In his address to the Senate, the Senator recalled that the last $250 million package of defense aid to Ukraine, which included the 155 mm ammunition needed for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to continue repelling the Russian onslaught, was announced almost a month ago, and since then the U.S. government has not be able to provide any more aid to Kyiv due the delay in Congress.

"Since the start of the war, Putin has bet that sooner or later, the U.S. would throw in the towel. They doubt Western resolve. They doubt American strength. (…) The Senate has an obligation to make sure that Putin regrets the day he questions America's resolve. (...) We have an obligation to help our friends who are fighting for their survival. We must, must finish the work on the supplemental. We’re not there yet but we will continue working," Schumer said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Republicans in U.S. Congress demand that the Democrats and the Biden administration implement a major migration reform before lawmakers proceed to approving the supplemental national security package that includes over $60 billion in Ukraine aid.

Even if an agreement is reached in Senate, it may not be supported by the House of Representatives, where Republicans control the majority. Negotiations on the amendments to migration legislation have been ongoing since October 2023.