Congress could punt Ukraine aid to 2024, snarl government funding talks – By Rebecca Picciotto (CNBC) / Dec 13, 2023
- Zelenskyy left Washington D.C. with no promise that a congressional aid package with billions in Ukraine aid would be passed this year.
- Democrats and Republicans are deadlocked on the supplemental aid package, and the House is scheduled to recess for the holidays at the end of the week.
- Pushing the aid negotiations into 2024 could complicate already fraught budget talks set for early next year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrapped up a series of high-profile meetings in Washington this week with no guarantees that a congressional aid package for Ukraine would be passed this year.
But if Congress pushes negotiations into 2024, it could complicate the already fraught process of passing a new federal budget, which lawmakers will have to confront in the coming months.
The temporary spending bill currently keeping government agencies open is due to expire Jan. 19 for some departments and Feb. 2 for others.
Throughout Zelenskyy’s visit, Republican hardliners in Congress expressed sympathy for Ukraine’s nearly two-year crusade against an unprovoked Russian invasion.
