(Dan Tri) – The US Congress removed the aid package for Ukraine from the spending bill passed on September 30 to prevent a government shutdown.

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives omitted a $6 billion aid package for Kiev in a bill passed by both chambers just hours before the midnight deadline on September 30.

The decision — at least for now — is bad news for President Volodymyr Zelensky, who last week met with President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky met at the White House in Washington D.C., on September 21 (Photo: AFP).

Step back for Ukraine

The Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have sought to reassure Ukraine that US military aid will not stop and could be provided in a separate bill.

In a statement on September 30, Mr. Biden affirmed that `the overwhelming majority of members of Congress have steadfastly supported Ukraine`, and expressed his expectation that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy – a Republican –

`Under any circumstances, we cannot allow America’s support for Ukraine to be interrupted,` Mr. Biden said.

Minutes after the Senate passed the short-term spending bill, Democratic leaders in the House asked Mr. McCarthy to prioritize scheduling a vote on US aid to Ukraine when the House returns to work.

Mr. McCarthy has shown that he will use the aid package for Ukraine as leverage to ask the Democrats to agree with the Republicans’ proposals to adjust border policy.

US lawmakers who support Ukraine affirmed that they will continue to make efforts to get Congress to approve more aid packages.

`In the coming weeks, we expect the Senate will work to ensure the United States government continues to provide sustained, critical economic and security assistance to Ukraine,` Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

Senator Jim Risch, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed confidence that aid to Ukraine will be maintained.

`This is not the end of the budget allocation process,` he said.

Ukrainian soldiers fire US Mk 48 machine guns during training exercises in Kiev on September 27 (Photo: Reuters).

Cracks gradually appear

Continuing to receive support from the US and its allies is very important for Mr. Zelensky, as the Ukrainian army is counterattacking to regain 17% of the country’s territory occupied by Russia.

Mr. McConnell is one of Ukraine’s strongest allies.

According to this source, Republican senators also questioned the urgency of the aid package for Ukraine.

To date, the United States has provided about $44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the conflict broke out in early 2022. Defense officials have warned of the risk of equipment shortages, including military reserves.

The Pentagon has `exhausted virtually all available security assistance budgets for Ukraine` and this shortfall will delay or cut urgent needs, including air defense and munitions, Comptroller

Cracks have begun to appear in support for Kiev, when a key ally, Poland, in September threatened to halt arms transfers to Ukraine over a grain dispute.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zelensky’s efforts to win the support of major countries in the group of developing countries at the United Nations General Assembly last week did not bring many visible results.

Last week, Mr. McCarthy, who has demanded transparency about the money transferred to Ukraine, said he refused when Mr. Zelensky asked to speak before Congress because lawmakers did not have time in a `week`.

Hard-liners in the Republican party say it is better for Washington to direct more money to the US military to better prepare for direct confrontations with opponents.