By KYIV. Dec 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – If the U.S. Senate does not support a bill that includes assistance to Ukraine and Israel, it will be “technical non-support,” which does not concern Ukraine: the most discussed topic is the issue of the U.S. southern border, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova has said.
“The relief package that we expect to be voted on, which will include significant assistance to Ukraine, proposed by the Administration and which is being considered in the Senate and the House of Representatives. After this package included assistance to Ukraine, Israel, issues of the South Pacific ‘theater,’ let’s say, future, possibly actions, another part was added to it – this is the issue of the southern border of the United States. Concerns domestic politics. And this is now a major topic under discussion,” Markarova said on air at the telethon.
The ambassador recalled that on November 17 she wrote that the issue of military assistance to Ukraine has bipartisan support, but the question was discussed whether Kyiv really needs such large budget assistance.
“Today it is positive, and the text that we saw in the Senate – not only are all those numbers not reduced, but some of them are increased in the proposal. On the negative side, although this is not negative for us, the bill does not include an agreed position on the border. And we have already heard a number of Republicans announce that they will not support him for this reason. And there is a letter from Speaker Johnson, who answered Ms. Chalanda that the issue of the southern border is crucial and calls for a common approach,” the diplomat said.
She said Ukraine does not interfere in internal issues of American politics, but she really hopes that the parties will find a common solution.
“But even if this solution is not found in this bill, and even if tomorrow [December 6] it is not supported (there are quite high chances that it will not be supported), this is a technical lack of support, and it does not concern Ukraine,” the ambassador said.
Markarova also saidt the work of the Ukrainian delegation in the Congress continues.
“We are doing everything to convince our friends that we need this help to be accepted before our common Christmas with the United States this year,” the ambassador said.
She also said the Ukrainian delegation had a “very warm and productive” meeting with Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson, and also held a number of meetings in Congress with the heads of committees and the Ukrainian Caucus.
