Last night, the Senate voted against a package of support measures worth $110 billion (more than 102 billion euros) for various countries. A large portion of this money was intended for Ukraine (61 billion), but Israel (14 billion) will also benefit from American support.
Related to migration
All Republican senators and independent Senator Bernie Sanders voted against the proposal. Democratic senators voted in favor. As a result, the support plan received 49 votes in the 100-member Senate, while 60 votes were needed.
Republicans refused to approve the plans because they believe that America’s border controls are not strict enough. At first glance, these two things seem to have nothing to do with each other.
“But you see that Republicans are linking support for Ukraine to the problems on the border. It has become a kind of pressure,” explains correspondent Sophie van der Meer.
The White House warned the US Congress this week: “We no longer have the money to support Ukraine in this fight. This is not a problem for next year. It is time to help democratic Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. It is time.” For Congress to act.”
“We cannot allow Putin to win,” President Joe Biden said before the Senate vote.
Great division
But within Congress, which in addition to the Senate also consists of the House of Representatives, there have been major divisions over aid to Ukraine for some time.
Reporter Eric Muthan explained this week that the Republican right wing “does not believe in a major role for America on the world stage.” “For President Biden, it is important that the United States supports democratic countries under attack.”
Senator Bernie Sanders also did not support the plan, but for other reasons. He said yesterday that he could not live with billions to support Israel because of that country’s “inhumane military approach.” He wanted to provide Israel with anti-aircraft defenses “to protect Israeli civilians from incoming missile attacks”, but was not interested in delivering large quantities of weapons.
‘The bullets were soon gone’
It is unclear how to proceed with US support for Ukraine and Israel. Whether there will be a definitive answer before the end of the year is highly doubtful, according to the New York Times.
The United States is not only Ukraine’s most important military ally, but also its largest financial backer. “Without American support, it will simply be over, and we will soon run out of bullets,” Mothan said this week.
