U.S. Congress unlikely to finalize border security and aid deal for Ukraine by end of year - Politico
Kyiv • UNN
U.S. lawmakers are unlikely to finalize border security and aid deal for Ukraine this month, Politico writes
The US Senate looks unlikely to move forward with a deal on new border security restrictions along with additional aid for Ukraine this month, as negotiators work on complex border legislation in difficult closed-door discussions with the Biden administration and senior Senate officials, Politico reports, UNN writes.
Details
"The full deal has not yet been finalized enough to release even a cursory outline or summary, and Republican senators have suggested that the bill not be considered until January, when the House of Representatives returns to work," the newspaper writes.
One of the negotiators, Republican Senator James Lankford, said that expecting a final vote by January is a "realistic timetable" for completion, and said that senators are "working on this as fast as we can." Senators will continue discussions on Monday when the US Senate returns to session. "Even after the final text of the law, approval of the bill in the Senate could take a week or more," the newspaper writes.
According to the newspaper, the desire to find a deal before the Christmas break has increased pressure on the negotiators.
On Sunday morning, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told GOP senators that "important issues are still being debated," warning that a potential vote this week would fail if the controversial issues are not fully resolved.
Indications are that Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could still quickly push for another vote to support Biden's foreign aid request this week, but an internal report says "no firm decision has been made on whether to hold that vote."
According to the publication, it is not expected that the US House of Representatives will return to work earlier, even if there is an agreement in the Senate.
