Congress Faces Decision on Continuing Support for Ukraine in Battle Against Russian Invasion

The U.S. government has announced the final remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorization, with Congress now needing to decide whether to continue supporting Kyiv's battle against the Russian invasion. This year's final package includes air-defense and artillery munitions, with the State Department urging Congress to act swiftly to renew the flow of assistance. President Joe Biden has made backing Ukraine a priority, and U.S. weapons and financial assistance have been crucial in helping the pro-Western country battle against a far larger attacking Russian force.

The final tranche of aid is worth up to $250 million and includes air-defense munitions, other air-defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition, among other supplies. The State Department emphasized the importance of the U.S.-led coalition helping Ukraine, noting that more than 50 countries are involved in the effort. It underlined the necessity for Congress to act swiftly to advance national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future.

However, right-wing Republicans have led a push to halt the effort, refusing to authorize new budget outlays if the Democrats don't first agree to sweeping, tough new measures against illegal migration over the US southern border. This opposition has created a challenging situation for renewing the flow of aid to Ukraine. While Democratic lawmakers in the Senate have tried to push for a last-minute deal with Republicans, finding agreement on immigration is expected to be difficult in the Senate, and a deal would have to be approved in the House of Representatives where Republicans hold a narrow majority. The upcoming reconvening of Congress on January 8 is expected to bring renewed focus on the support for Ukraine and the complex issue of immigration in the U.S. political landscape.