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Local sources from United States: The New York Times, Reuters.
UK coverage: Financial Times.

On Wednesday, US Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have provided $250 million in military aid to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression. The bill was blocked due to a disagreement over immigration, as Republicans objected to an amendment that would grant legal status to undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. This dispute highlights the ongoing divisions within the Senate on immigration policy and its impact on other legislative priorities.

White House and Ukrainian officials have warned lawmakers that without an influx of weapons, Kyiv will exhaust its resources to defend against Russia’s invading army by year-end. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Ukraine’s ‘ability to advance and their ability to defend will be substantially constrained’ if Congress does not approve additional funding soon. Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has publicly expressed his belief that if military aid from the United States stops, it will result in Russia defeating Ukraine.

Pentagon officials have raised doubts about the White House’s claims that Kyiv is on the verge of running out of American funds. They have stated that the administration will be able to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine throughout the winter by gradually releasing the remaining $4.8 billion in authority to send weapons from U.S. stockpiles.

The failure of the legislation in the Senate means that Ukraine is highly unlikely to receive additional American aid before the end of the year, and possibly even beyond. Vice President Joe Biden, who spoke at the White House just hours before the vote, warned that ‘history is going to judge harshly those who turned their backs on freedom’s cause.’

The emergency spending bill included $20 billion for border security. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, also voted ‘no’ so that he could introduce the measure again in the future. After the vote, Schumer noted the risks if Ukraine falls, saying it was a ‘serious moment that will have lasting consequences for the 21st century,’ risking the decline of Western democracy.

Republicans said it was essential to make their case for tighter immigration policies and control of the southern border. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a floor speech earlier on Wednesday that ‘today’s vote is what it takes for the Democratic leader to recognize that Senate Republicans mean what we say.’

Even if the bill passes the Senate, it still would need to be approved in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where dozens of Republicans have voted against Ukraine aid, including Speaker Mike Johnson. A group of Senate Democrats called a press conference to argue that blocking the bill would send a message to both U.S. adversaries and allies that the United States does not stand with its international partners.

President Joe Biden has requested billions of dollars in funding for Ukraine as it fights Russian invaders, for Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks by Islamist Hamas militants, for U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific, and for international humanitarian relief. However, Congressional Republicans and Democrats have been debating for months how to address Biden’s request, and tempers have become increasingly frayed on Capitol Hill as the impasse threatens to stretch into 2024.