(Headline USA) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., claimed this week that helping Ukraine fight off Russia is a “top priority” for both Democrats and Republicans.
“I think we all agree the most important thing going on in the world right now is the war in Ukraine,” McConnell said after being asked about the House’s $40 billion aid package for Ukraine.
.@LeaderMcConnell“: “I had a chance to call the president last week and request that the Ukraine package more by itself and quickly…He called back in about 15 minutes and agreed…I think we’re on a path to getting that done.” pic.twitter.com/0C8rc8IyJQ
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 10, 2022
“I had a chance to call the president last week and request that the Ukraine package move by itself and quickly,” McConnell continued.
“He said, let me think it over. He called back in about 15 minutes and agreed that we need to do this for Ukraine only, and quickly.”
The Republican predicted that the package will pass the Senate quickly.
“I think we’re on a path to getting that done, discussions are underway between the House and Senate appropriators on the crafting of the package,” he said.
“It needs to be clean of extraneous matters, directly related to helping Ukrainians win the war.”
McConell said he expects “substantial support” from his party for the package.
“We’re going to try to process it as soon as possible,” he added.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the No. 2 GOP leader in the Senate, agreed and predicted “a big vote over here” for the bill.
“I think because there’s so much forward momentum behind doing this and doing it in a timely way that it I don’t think we’ll have anybody who will hold it up,” he explained.
