No deal made on Ukraine funding in the US Senate.

 

Joe Biden has demanded funding for Ukraine. Fox News/AP.

No deal has been made on funding the wars in Ukraine and Israel due to Republicans demanding a deal on border controls on the border with Mexico. Fox News. Joe Biden had demanded $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, along with other security concerns, but Republicans in the Senate have blocked it due to no deal being offered on immigration. The vote was 49-51, but they did not reach the 60 vote threshold. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders joined the Republicans in opposing the bill due to funding the Israel-Hamas war. 

My Comment:

I have said for awhile now that the United States is looking for a way to get out of Ukraine and the gridlock in Congress appears to be an easy way to do so. Both sides can blame the other for not cutting a deal so neither of them have to take full blame for a Ukraine policy that has very obviously failed. 

How much of this is by design is unclear. Supposedly the classified briefing the Senate had today devolved into childish yelling and arguments because Republicans wanted to talk about the border. That kind makes me think there are enough people that still care about Ukraine, even though they are clearly losing, that they are willing to yell about it at least. Or it could just be both sides talking past each other. 

If a deal were to be made, it's going to die in the House, which is a lot more skeptical of the war in Ukraine. I really do think that Ukraine is out of luck and that they won't be getting any more funding this year. They may get some in 2024 if some kind of deal is made, but even then, I don't think it is very likely. 

Bernie Sanders voting against it because it included aid for Israel complicates things in the house. Sanders anti-Israel sentiment is a lot more common in the House and it would make it even more difficult to pass a bill. I think Sanders argument is ridiculous but it is popular on the left to hate Israel.

What is funny to me is that it's pretty obvious that if the Senate would just separate all these bills into much smaller ones and have a vote on each one I think all of them would pass. But instead they have these huge bundles that are a lot more hard to pass. It's more evidence that they actually don't want more funding for Ukraine (or Israel for that matter). 

Regardless, I don't think the funding will affect either the Ukraine war or the Israel war at this point. Ukraine's going to lose no matter what and Israel is going to win no matter what. The only difference this funding would make is how long each outcome will take.