Elena Buturlim19:02, 21.03.24

The Democratic Party is increasingly open to this concept if it is seen as the last chance to approve aid to Ukraine.

Democrats in both houses of the US Congress suggest they are ready to support aid to Ukraine in the form of a loan – an idea that is gaining momentum among Republican Party leaders who are trying to break the impasse, writes The Hill.

It is noted that the concept of a loan is not desirable for Democrats. They are pushing for passage of the $60 billion package the Senate passed last month for Ukraine, while criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to bring the package to the House floor.

But if the lending strategy Johnson pitched to Republican senators last week can break Ukraine’s impasse, some Democrats say they’re all for it, reporters say.VIDEO OF THE DAYPlay Video

“The Democrats support aid to Ukraine. Call it a loan or whatever you want, but give them the resources. You have to give them aid. If it’s a loan, it’s aid; if it’s a bailout package with no strings attached, it’s still aid.” , said Bennie Thompson, the ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee.

The lending strategy has gained popularity among Republicans in recent weeks, not least because former President Donald Trump is using the campaign to push the idea that all U.S. foreign aid should come in the form of loans.

Few believe Ukraine will ever repay these loans, given the trillions of dollars in reconstruction costs that Kiev is sure to face once the Russian conflict ends. But the loan scheme could provide some political cover for wary Republicans to pitch the idea to their own. voters as a strategy to ease the financial burden on American taxpayers,” the article says.

Democrats are indicated to be increasingly open to the concept if it is seen as the last best chance to get help for Ukraine before the November elections.

Conversations have centered in the House in recent weeks as Johnson weighs how he might direct funds to Ukraine despite growing opposition from within himself and from Trump. No action on the issue is expected until mid-April as both chambers go on recess for two weeks in the coming days.

US assistance

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, said that the main priority of the US Congress is to agree on the government budget for 2024, and since this issue has already been almost resolved, they will move on to an assistance package for Ukraine and its partners in the near future.

At the same time, after March 22, a two-week break in the House of Representatives begins, so legislators will most likely move on to a bill to finance assistance to Ukraine, Israel and other US partners after April 8.

Previously, Johnson said that the House of Representatives could send its own bill to help Ukraine, which would differ significantly from the one approved by the US Senate. He proposed turning the assistance into a loan or Lend-Lease program.

GOP views on structuring the loan agreement go something like this: While President Joe Biden has asked for $60 billion for Ukraine, most of that money—$48 billion—will be pumped back into the U.S. defense industrial base. That leaves about $12 billion that could be used as borrowing.

(C)UNIAN 2024