US Republicans on aid to Ukraine: Senate leader supports joint package with Israel, House speaker opposes it

CNN reports on the position of Republicans in the Senate.

"This is a moment for swift and decisive action to prevent further loss of life, and to impose real consequences on the tyrants who have terrorized the people of Ukraine and of Israel. And right now, the Senate has a chance to produce supplemental assistance that will help us do exactly that," McConnell said.

He also noted that the aggression against Israel and Ukraine is connected, as China, Russia and Iran are the new "axis of evil".

"Think of it as an axis of evil: China, Russia and Iran. So this is not just a test for Ukraine. It is a test for the United States and from the free world. And the path toward greater security for all of us is simple: Help Ukraine win the war," said the Senate Republican leader.

At the same time, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson proposed to allocate $14.3 billion to help Israel in a separate package, Politico reports.

Johnson has already submitted a bill to Congress. It is scheduled to be reviewed this week.

According to the newspaper, such an initiative will face serious problems, as Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat) and minority leader Mitch McConnell (Republican) prefer US President Joe Biden's proposal to combine aid to Ukraine and Israel into a single package worth $106 billion.

"We believe, our Democratic Caucus, we should be doing all of it together: Israel, Ukraine, South Pacific, etc. And obviously a pay-for like that makes it much harder to pass," Schumer said, commenting on Johnson's proposal.

• On October 26, the newly elected speaker of the US House of Representatives said he believed it was necessary to separate the issues of support for Ukraine and Israel.