As Republican opposition grows to Ukraine aid, Senate leaders say the world is watching

WASHINGTON – As a rising selection of Republicans oppose U.S. aid to Ukraine, the Senate’s leaders are arguing in sturdy phrases that the cash is an important to pushing again in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and keeping up America’s international status.

In the Capitol for a unprecedented weekend consultation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Republican chief Mitch McConnell of Kentucky issued stark warnings about the penalties of forsaking longtime U.S. allies in Europe.

“Today it’s no exaggeration to say that the eyes of the world are on the United States Senate,” McConnell stated. “Our allies and partners are hoping that the indispensable nation, the leader of the free world, has the resolve to continue.”

A check vote Sunday on the $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and different international locations comes as former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, is attempting to kill the help and has escalated his attacks on the NATO army alliance.

Trump stated Saturday at a marketing campaign rally in South Carolina that Russia will have to be ready to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO participants who don’t meet their protection spending objectives. He recounted a tale he has advised sooner than about an unidentified NATO member who faced him over his risk now not to assist them.

While McConnell has made Ukraine a best factor, increasingly participants in his GOP convention have adopted Trump’s lead and are opposing the relief, which Senate leaders had been attempting to move for months.

Without citing Trump by means of title, McConnell stated in his opening remarks Sunday that “American leadership matters, and it is in question.”

Schumer stated that if America doesn’t lend a hand Ukraine, “Putin is all too likely to succeed.”

“The most effective proper solution to this risk is for the Senate to face it down unflinchingly by means of passing this invoice once we will be able to,” Schumer said before the vote.

The Senate is pushing through several procedural votes on the slimmed-down package after an attempt to pair it with legislation to stem migration at the U.S. border collapsed. Objections from Republicans adamantly opposed to the aid have delayed quick action, forcing the weekend votes as negotiations continue over potential amendments to the legislation.

Schumer has said he is open to amendments -– most of which would be likely to fail -– but he forced senators to stay in session through the weekend to try and speed up the process.

In a key vote last week, 17 Republican senators agreed to start debate on the bill and 31 voted against it, giving McConnell and other Republican supporters of the aid new hope that it could pass.

But even if the Senate does pass the package, its future is deeply uncertain in the House, where a large majority of GOP lawmakers are firmly allied with Trump.

Amid shortages on the battlefield, the package would provide $60 billion for Ukraine, mostly to purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say it desperately needs as Russia batters the country. It includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.

It would additionally supply $14 billion for Israel’s battle with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and companions in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.