Key events
Senators snipe at each other after negotiations over border security break down, imperiling Ukraine aid
Following reports that talks to approve a new tranche of aid for Ukraine alongside tighter border security measures had broken down, senators took to X to complain about the other sides’ negotiating tactics.
The GOP is demanding tougher immigration policies in exchange for its votes to approve more military aid to Kyiv, but much of what they are demanding is unpalatable to Democrats, and the two sides reportedly stopped talking last week.
Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator from Connecticut, complained that the GOP was not interested in reaching a compromise:
Apparently I’ve wasted the last 3 weeks of my life since this was never a negotiation – just a take it or leave it demand. 🙃 https://t.co/TY6KDpYxOF
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 4, 2023
Independent Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona chimed in to come complain about leaks coming out of the negotiations:
This isn’t true.
Getting to yes is hard enough, given the real differences between D and R positions on the border.
We don’t need potshots from “sources” who aren’t in the room to make it harder.
Meanwhile, my state is in crisis while the gov’t does nothing to solve it. https://t.co/DkCcPjBLxY
— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) December 4, 2023
James Lankford of Oklahoma has been leading the talks for the Republicans, and yesterday insisted that the two sides were working to find a resolution:
We continue to work to find a solution that will protect our national security, stop the human trafficking and prevent the cartels from exploiting the obvious loopholes in our law. That is the goal & we will continue to work until we get it right.
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) December 4, 2023
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy to press Senate on resolving military aid logjam
Good morning, US politics blog readers. Congress has for months been deadlocked on approving new military aid for Ukraine, and this afternoon, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will remotely address senators at 3pm eastern time to remind them of the stakes. The White House yesterday warned that it is weeks away from running out of money to support Kyiv’s defense against Russia’s invasion, and in addition to Zelenskiy’s speech to senators, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak will be in the capitol to press lawmakers to keep up the support.
Part of the reason that Congress has not approved more aid to Ukraine is that Republicans are insisting any new funding is coupled with changes to border policy that are intended to address the surge in migrants entering the country. Immigration policy is one of the most divisive issues in Washington DC, and much of what the GOP has demanded, such as restarting construction of a border wall, or changing asylum policies to let fewer people remain in the country while their case is hear, are unpalatable to Democrats. Negotiations between the two sides reportedly broke down over the weekend, and it’s unclear if they are back on. We’ll see if there’s any movement today in those talks, or if Zelenskiy’s pleas make a difference.
Here’s what else is going on:
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Kamala Harris will hold a behind-closed-doors meeting at 1.15pm with former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords about the administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence.
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House Republican leadership will hold a press conference at 10am today, and undoubtedly be asked about lots of things, including speaker Mike Johnson’s stance on Ukraine funding.
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Joe Lieberman, the former senator and founder of No Labels, which is considering running a third-party presidential candidate, floated the idea in a Fox News interview of drafting Nikki Haley, should she fail to win the Republican presidential nomination.
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