US aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance as Presedent Trump tries to derail a deal in Congress

US aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance as Trump tries to derail a deal in Congress linking increased funding to Kiev with tighter controls on immigration

The Financial Times writes about this. Trump wants to make immigration a central issue in the 2024 presidential race and has opposed compromise. His victory in the primaries also increased his influence over the party, making a compromise difficult to accept.

On his Truth Social account the day before, he wrote:

"We need a strong, powerful and essentially 'perfect' border, and if we don't get it, we'd better not do the deal, even if it forces our country to temporarily 'shut down' for a while."

"I don't think any additional aid will be provided any time soon given the chaos within the Republican Party." - said former Senate Democratic aide Jim Manley. Republican leader Mitch McConnell said that “policy has changed” on the issue of concluding a border agreement and increasing funding for Kyiv.

"We're borrowing money from other countries, from our grandchildren, to pay for this conflict. There's been no progress in the last year. 200,000 people have died. Let's focus on getting a peace treaty," Roger Marshall, a senator from Kansas, said in an interview with Fox.

Other politicians call for timely funding for Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they will continue to work toward an agreement. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner wrote:

"If we fail to fulfill our obligations to Ukraine, then no country - friend or foe - will fully trust us again."

Even if the senators come to an agreement, it is unclear whether House Speaker Johnson will hold a vote in the lower house of Congress, the FT clarifies.

The last relief package was sent in December, but Congressional funds have run out. As the Pentagon says, they continue to send what should have been supplied under longer-term contracts, but this volume does not meet the immediate needs of Ukraine.