US will further strengthen Ukraine in war with Russia, Biden invites Zelensky to White House

The Democratic senator said the White House will step up its involvement with US lawmakers trying to sign a bipartisan deal that would provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel while tightening US border security. Republicans have insisted that additional funding for Ukraine be tied to major US border security changes, but a bipartisan group of senators trying to broker a compromise has blocked a deal just before the US Congress left for the Christmas recess. Made very little progress less than a week ago.

Senator Chris Murphy, the lead Democratic negotiator, said on NBC News’ Meet the Press that the White House is going to be more proactive this week. Murphy said it is important to know whether Democratic President Joe Biden would sign any potential agreement. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Biden has struggled with record numbers of migrants attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. Republicans have criticized Biden, who is currently the leading candidate for his party’s nomination, for rolling back some of the restrictive policies of former President Donald Trump.

Reuters reported last week that the Biden administration was open to new limits on US asylum as part of a deal to secure funding for allies Ukraine and Israel. Murphy said Republicans’ current border security demands were unreasonable and that they were playing games with the world’s security by tying military aid to US border security measures.