According to a report this week, President Joe Biden will shortly ask Congress for a Ukraine aid package that might cost more than $10 billion.
According to Punchbowl News, when Congress reconvenes from its break, the fight over Ukraine funding will go back up. The next request, which might cost “north of $10 billion,” comes as Ukraine maintains its sluggish counteroffensive against Russia and after America and other NATO nations committed to supporting Ukraine.
The head of procurement for the Army informed reporters this week that the Department of Defense was putting together a financing proposal for lawmakers to take into consideration. The shipment would be used to restock American weapon stocks, which have been exhausted as a result of providing ammunition for Ukraine’s lengthy confrontation with Russia.
Even while people are becoming less supportive of the idea of further taxpayer funds being used to support the Kyiv administration, the US has given Ukraine more than $110 billion in aid.
According to Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the house for California, any additional financing for Ukraine should be approved through regular order or the appropriations process rather than a supplementary package.
The anticipated conflict over Ukraine aid became extremely acrimonious in July when 70 House Republicans voted to halt financing for Ukraine.
However, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has criticized the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s existing defense spending cap, the compromise McCarthy and Biden reached to raise the debt ceiling, and has advocated for a substantial aid package for Ukraine.
As both chambers of Congress must approve appropriations bills by the end of September in order to prevent a government shutdown, a Ukraine aid package would also take a lot of floor time.
The majority of Americans disagree with delivering further help to Ukraine, according to a survey released last week.
The survey, according to Kelley Vlahos, a senior consultant at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, is not promising for Biden.
“The survey also doesn’t portend well for Biden’s handling of important foreign policy matters,” according to Vlahos. “Some 53% disagree with the way he is handling the conflict in Ukraine, 56% disapprove of his management of Russia, and 57% disapprove of his handling of the relationship with China.”
