US senators reaffirm Ukraine commitment in joint statement

This was reported on the website of the United States Republican Senators.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Susan Collins, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Chair Chris Coons, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham issued a joint statement on the Senate's bipartisan commitment to support Ukraine.

"We welcome today’s agreement to avoid a harmful and unnecessary shutdown of the federal government. Nevertheless, this agreement leaves a number of urgent priorities outstanding," the statement said.

In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to work to ensure that the US government continues to provide critical and sustainable security and economic support to Ukraine.

"We support Ukraine’s efforts to defend its sovereignty against Putin’s brazen aggression, and we join a strong bipartisan majority of our colleagues in this essential work. With the eyes of our partners, allies, and adversaries upon us, we keenly understand the importance of American leadership and are committed to strengthening it from Europe to the Indo-Pacific," the Senate said.

• Earlier, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the "shutdown" could affect the speed of arms deliveries to US partners.

• At the same time, he said, a bipartisan majority in the US Congress supports continued assistance to Ukraine.

• On September 30, US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that money for Ukraine should be excluded from the supplemental spending bill to prevent a shutdown.

• The government was on the verge of shutting down as McCarthy said the vote would take place last-minute.

• But an hour before the October 1 deadline, US President Joe Biden signed a bill to temporarily fund the government until November 17, approved the day before by the US Senate and House of Representatives.  Prior to signing the bill, Biden issued a statement saying that the deal did not include new funding to continue supporting Ukraine.