Blinken urges immediate approval of Ukraine aid by US Congress, warning of looming deadline

There is a “real risk” it’ll be too late for Ukraine if the U.S. Congress does not approve a military aid bill now, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, The Guardian reported on April 19.

Read also: House Democrats rescue GOP’s foreign aid bill in ‘unprecedented’ vote - Axios

Blinken stressed the urgency of promptly securing a vote on this aid package and moving it forward.

“Is it too late?” he said.

“No. If it happens now, it’s not too late. If it doesn’t happen, or takes a lot more time, there is a real risk that yes, it will be too late.”

Blocking the Ukraine funding bill in the U.S.

Read also: Without US aid, Ukraine could lose war by year's end — CIA

Republicans have been blocking the Ukraine aid bill since October 2023, initially citing the need to bolster U.S. immigration policy.

The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Feb. 13 providing $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with $60 billion allocated to Ukraine.

House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate proposal and refused to submit it for consideration.

Read also: What’s included in the $60.8 billion Ukraine aid package?

Johnson announced on April 1 that the Ukraine aid bill would include significant new provisions, such as providing aid as loans, instead of grants.

Johnson introduced four separate bills regarding funding for U.S. aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other national security priorities on April 15.

The House of Representatives website published the text of a bill on military aid for Ukraine on April 17, including $60 billion and ATACMS missiles.

Johnson announced on the same day that he would bring the bill on funding for Ukraine to a vote on April 20.

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