The House of Representatives of the US Congress has blocked the Republican bill, which would have provided Israel with $17.6 billion without aid to Ukraine.
The anti-Ukrainian draft law failed to pass in Congress
According to Democrats, they are considering only one scenario — a vote on a broader bill that includes aid to Ukraine, international humanitarian funding and new money for border security.
Journalists draw attention to the fact that the vote was 250 votes against 180, which was not enough to pass the law, as it was presented under an accelerated procedure that requires a two-thirds majority.
In addition, it is emphasised that voting was mainly along party lines, although 14 Republicans opposed the bill, and 46 Democrats supported it.
What is essential to understand is that aid to Israel—one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid—has traditionally enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress.
Still, many opponents see the House bill as a political ploy by Republicans to divert attention from the bill, which combines an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy with new funding for border security, as well as aid money for Ukraine, Israel and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden addressed the Congress regarding the draft law on support for Ukraine
On the eve of the vote, on February 6, American leader Joe Biden called on members of Congress to pass a bill on aid to Ukraine immediately and hand it over to him for signature.
I urge Congress to pass this bill and place it on my desk immediately. But if the bill fails, I want to be clear: Americans will know why it will fail.
Joe Biden
President of the USA
The head of the White House also warned that without new aid for Ukraine, the Armed Forces will run out of weapons to defend against the Russian invaders.
The clock is ticking, the American leader emphasised.
