A Republican US senator responds to Tusk’s attack: I support supporting Ukraine, but first we need to help America

I am in favor of supporting Ukraine, but first we must help America, Republican Senator Marco Rubio told PAP, commenting on Prime Minister Tusk’s contribution to the X website criticizing Republican senators for blocking aid to Kiev .

Rubio added that if Poland were invaded by millions of illegal immigrants, he would understand Republicans because they would want to deal with that first, not Ukraine.

My message to Poland is: if they were the victims of an invasion by eight million illegal immigrants, we would understand that they would prefer to deal with this rather than Ukraine.

– Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and former presidential candidate told PAP. He commented on Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s contribution on the X platform on Thursday.

Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us regain freedom and independence, must be rolling in his grave today. Shame

– wrote the Prime Minister, referring to Wednesday’s vote in the Senate, where the votes of mainly Republicans rejected a bill that combines aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with immigration restrictions.

What’s next for US aid to Ukraine?

The issue of aid to Ukraine has not yet been fully resolved in the Senate. A vote is scheduled for Thursday to open a debate on a separate package of funds worth PLN 95 billion for US partners. On Wednesday it appeared that he would receive the support of the required number of sixty senators, but his fate is currently uncertain. Rubio said he would vote against moving forward with the bill if it did not include an amendment that would tighten immigration law — unless President Biden signs an executive order reversing all policy changes at the southern border.

I support helping Ukraine, but we need to help America first. America will be of no use to Poland and other allies if we as a country have to devote more and more resources to the eight million people who are here illegally.

– said the senator. When asked to assess the package’s chances for Ukraine, he said if the border was not secured there would be “a battle” in Congress. However, he added that there is a chance the bill could be passed.

According to Rubio, the immigration reforms in the original Republican bill were rejected because they would not solve America’s problems. In December 2023, Republicans in the Senate spoke out against the ‘clean’ bill with funds for Ukraine and Israel, and demanded stricter migration policies. However, when the bipartisan draft restrictions were announced—allowing the president to “close the border” with Mexico and significantly tighten the asylum process—Republicans resisted this solution, largely under intense pressure from former President Trump.

Some party politicians, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, suggested that Trump did not want the bill to pass because the crisis at the border would benefit him in the election campaign.

tkwl/PAP

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