As Republicans in the US Senate on Wednesday blocked the advance of tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance for Ukraine, US President Joe Biden berated their tactics as “stunning” and dangerous, while also signaling an openness to what Republican lawmakers ultimately want: border policy changes.
Biden at the White House warned of dire consequences for Kyiv — and a “gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin — if Congress failed to pass a US$110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel as well as other national security priorities. Hours later, Senate Republicans defiantly voted to stop the package from advancing, something that they had threatened to do all week.
“They’re willing to literally kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield and damage our national security in the process,” Biden said.
Photo: AFP
However, even as he lashed Republicans for their stance, Biden said that he is willing to “make significant compromises on the border,” if that is what it takes to get the package through Congress.
That statement has raised at least some hope that progress can be made in the days ahead as the Senate grinds through negotiations on border security, one of the most fraught issues in US politics. Biden’s remarks on Wednesday were his clearest overture yet to Republicans and came at a critical time, with a path through Congress for the emergency funds rapidly disappearing and the US support for multiple allies in doubt.
“If we don’t support Ukraine, what is the rest of the world going to do?” Biden added.
The US president’s statement came hours after he huddled virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and leaders of the G7 advanced democracies, which have staunchly supported Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
“We need to fix the broken border system. It is broken,” Biden said, adding that he is ”ready to change policy as well.”
He did not name specific policy proposals and accused Republicans of wanting a political issue more than bipartisan compromise.
Republican Senator James Lankford, who has been leading US Senate negotiations over border policy, was encouraged by what he heard, saying it seemed like the president is “ready to be able to sit down and talk.”
Senators of both parties acknowledged they need to move quickly if a deal is to be struck. Congress is scheduled to be in Washington for just a handful more days before the end of the year.
The White House, meanwhile, has sounded the alarm about what would happen if they do not approve more funding soon, saying Ukraine’s military would be stalled, or even overrun.
“When deadlines come, everybody’s undivided attention is there and we realize: ‘OK. Now it’s time to actually solve this,’” Lankford said.
Democrats involved in the negotiations also said a direct hand from the president, as well as from Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, could be helpful.
“This kind of thorny, difficult problem is exactly what Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell have worked on before. And we could use their help and their leadership on this,” said Senator Michael Bennet, another negotiator.
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