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US Senate to return to Ukrainian aid issue in January — majority leader

This is just a difficult issue, both in coming up with an agreement and then drafting it, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said

WASHINGTON, December 20. /TASS/. The US Senate will begin working to reach a deal on US southern border control and aid to Ukraine immediately after resuming its work in early January, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

"Our negotiators are going to be working very, very diligently over the December and January break period, and our goal is to get something done as soon as we get back," he said.

"We’ve made a lot of progress. This is just a difficult issue, both in coming up with an agreement and then drafting it," he added. "But I’m optimistic that we can get things done when we get back," the senator added.

In October, the Washington administration asked the US Congress for additional funding for the 2024 fiscal year, particularly to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine and confront China and Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. The Biden administration is seeking to secure about $106 billion for these purposes.

Meanwhile, a number of Republican members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have recently spoken out against providing financial aid to Kiev. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly warned of plans to tie any further Ukraine aid with tougher measures to control the US’ southern border. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has also made similar statements.

On December 6, a bill to assist Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan failed a procedural vote in the US Senate.

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