US Senate’s border-Ukraine deal that Donald Trump opposes on brink of collapse
- Republican senators cool on bipartisan compromise after Donald Trump attack
- Billions of dollars in Ukraine, Israel aid hangs in the balance amid political infighting
A hard-fought bipartisan deal to impose new US border restrictions and unlock Ukraine war aid is on the brink of collapsing in the Senate, where Republican support crumbled in the face of opposition from Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump.
Republican senators emerged from a contentious, 90-minute meeting Monday night arguing that a planned Wednesday vote on the measure was too soon, delaying aid Ukraine says it desperately needs for at least several more weeks and leaving the worsening situation at the border unresolved.
Less than 24 hours later, Republicans – even those who had been open to the deal – soured.
“I think the proposal is dead,” Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee and a strong supporter of Ukraine aid, said.