The US Senate resumes work after the holidays and plans to increase aid to Ukraine.
American lawmakers have returned to Washington following the holiday and plan to pass spending bills quickly. In August, President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve about $40B in additional spending, including $24B for aid to Ukraine and other international needs.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the administration is working closely with the Senate and the House of Representatives on an additional aid package that provides funding through the end of 2023.
According to Sullivan, the administration believes it will be able to secure the necessary funding. However, prospects for Biden’s additional request may have less hope in the House of Representatives, where several supporters of Donald Trump have criticized the US’ funding of Kyiv.
At the same time, Republican leader Mitch McConnell predicted that US funding to support Ukraine would continue despite increasing calls from some party members to cut aid to Kyiv.