Congress is delaying the issue of allocating aid to Ukraine

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives returns to Washington with an increased need to boost military assistance to Ukraine but without official deadlines or a clear strategy for its approval. The lower chamber will convene for only four days before a two-week holiday recess. Supporters of Kiev are urging Speaker Mike Johnson to approve additional aid by the end of the week, reports The Hill.

However, on Friday, Congress will urgently need to fund the government and prevent a partial shutdown — a process expected to take the entire week. Johnson has shown no signs of being ready to swiftly pass a package of foreign aid measures before the recess, nor has he revealed what such legislation would entail. The Speaker stated that he wants to focus first on government funding and only then address the package of national security issues — including aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as funding for border security enhancements along the US-Mexico border.

In this case, the earliest possible actions regarding Ukraine would not be taken until April 9 — three weeks later, when the House of Representatives is scheduled to return to the Capitol after an extended holiday break. According to many Democrats, the besieged forces of Ukraine cannot afford to wait that long, as Russian troops are slowly advancing while Ukraine experiences a severe lack of resources.