WASHINGTON - As the Senate concluded its work for the year, Senator Michael Bennet delivered a late-night plea on the Senate floor, urging Congress to ramp up support for Ukraine amidst dwindling aid. Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado, has tirelessly spearheaded efforts to secure tens of billions of dollars in weaponry and economic assistance for Ukraine, clashing with his counterparts to prioritize the conflict as a defining clash between authoritarianism and democracy.

Despite Bennet's impassioned plea, Congress adjourned for the holidays with no immediate plans to reconvene for two weeks. The Biden administration has announced intentions to send one more aid package to Ukraine before the end of the year, but has cautioned that it will be the final one unless Congress approves additional funding.

The United States finds itself grappling with faltering support in Congress as global conflicts and unrest continue to threaten global security, leaving the nation struggling to establish its role in international affairs. Republican lawmakers, influenced by former President Donald Trump, have grown increasingly skeptical about U.S. involvement abroad, particularly regarding aid to Ukraine.

Support for bolstering Ukraine's defense was once a cherished bipartisan cause in Congress. However, the fate of approximately $61 billion in funding now rests on precarious negotiations surrounding border and immigration changes. The evenly divided Congress has faced considerable challenges in passing legislation that addresses even the most basic functions of the U.S. government, rendering ambitious measures virtually out of reach.

Both Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate view the proposed $110 billion aid package as a potential turning point for democracy worldwide. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine, stating that history would judge the collective failure to do so. Echoing similar sentiments, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stressed the crucial and challenging time to protect American interests and allies.

McConnell, a key proponent of Ukraine aid, has strived to garner support within his party. After a previous $6 billion aid package for Ukraine collapsed in October, McConnell started advocating for border policy changes to be tied to any future funding. The White House refrained from getting involved in the negotiations until they deemed it appropriate. However, senior Republicans involved in the border talks argue that White House intervention came too late, thereby delaying approval of additional Ukraine aid until the new year.

Negotiators in the Senate have had to navigate the explosive politics surrounding border policy while grappling with complex areas of American law. The negotiations prompted McConnell to emphasize the urgency and set a deadline for reaching a border deal in order for it to be drafted into legislative provisions before the end of the year.

Despite the ongoing deliberations, the fate of the aid package remains uncertain. Progressive lawmakers have called for the inclusion of humanitarian conditions on aid for Israel, expressing concerns over civilian casualties in the conflict with Gaza. Meanwhile, Latino Democrats in both chambers of Congress have criticized restrictions on asylum claims.

In the House, where Republican Speaker Mike Johnson holds a tenuous grip on power, the aid package faces even more uncertainty. Though Johnson has previously voted against aid for Ukraine, he has expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a willingness to find a way to approve the aid. Nonetheless, Trump's allies in the House have actively worked to block additional aid to Ukraine. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch ally of the former president, warned that insisting on border policy changes could provide the Biden administration with policy victories on the campaign trail.

As senators leave Washington, they continue to offer assurances to Ukraine that American assistance is forthcoming. White House staff and Senate negotiators plan to use the next two weeks to draft border legislation with hopes that it will be ready for action upon the return of Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Schumer remains optimistic but cautioned that compromise from Republicans is essential. Senator Roger Wicker, an Alabama Republican and staunch Ukraine supporter, expressed confidence in Congress taking action. Referencing the words of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Wicker stated, "Americans will always do the right thing, after they've exhausted every other alternative."

As the holidays approach, the fate of Ukraine aid hangs in the balance, signaling a critical juncture for U.S. support of global democracy and security.