US to cut nearly $20 billion in aid to Ukraine

The US Senate reached a tentative agreement on a spending bill needed to avert a federal budget crisis in late September, along with a $20 billion cut in aid to Ukraine that was previously proposed by the Joe Biden administration.

Accordingly, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the US Senate reached an agreement on a new budget ceiling on the evening of September 26 (local time). One of the Republican Party's prerequisites is to cut aid to Ukraine if they want the federal budget to be passed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (center) during a meeting with US Senate leaders in Washington, DC, September 21. (Photo: AP)

“Over the weekend, day and night, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate worked in good faith to reach a budget agreement to avert a shutdown of the federal government,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat.

The interim funding bill is expected to allocate $6.2 billion in aid to Ukraine, down from the nearly $25 billion Democrats initially sought. While a large number of Republicans have accepted the smaller aid package, others have opposed more aid to Ukraine.

“Facing a shutdown of the US government and rushing to provide aid to Ukraine is bad policy,” said liberal Senator Rand Paul in a post on social media X. “I will not easily agree to any spending bill that includes funding for Ukraine. Those responsible for this bill need to kill it or get over me.”

While the US Senate appears close to reaching an agreement on a new budget bill despite opposition from some senators, the bill still needs to be passed by the US House of Representatives. US lawmakers in both chambers have until September 30 to produce final legislation for President Joe Biden to sign, or risk a federal government shutdown.

It remains to be seen, however, whether House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will accept the Senate's changes to the spending bill, as congressional Republicans are seeking deeper budget cuts and are more vocal in their opposition to aid to Ukraine than before.

In a statement on September 26, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he would not make “hypothetical” statements regarding the Senate bill.

Although senior White House officials have previously warned that a federal government shutdown would hinder US military aid to Kiev, the Pentagon appears unfazed by the issue.

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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