In a move to create urgency amidst tough negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to hold a vote on President Joe Biden's request for billions in assistance for Ukraine and Israel. The vote is anticipated to take place as early as the week of December 4, according to Schumer's statement on Sunday.

Schumer's announcement adds pressure on lawmakers to come up with a border security deal that can be paired with the much-needed assistance for the two U.S. allies. Senate Republicans have been seeking border security policy changes as part of any supplemental spending bill, hoping that such a deal could overcome resistance from the House GOP majority on supporting Ukraine.

Calling the border demand the "biggest holdup," Schumer expressed concern about the delays in delivering new funds for Ukraine's defense against Russia and Israel's war with Hamas. In a Dear Colleague letter to senators, Schumer highlighted that injecting a "decades-old, hyper-partisan issue" into bipartisan priorities could jeopardize the entire supplemental bill. He stressed the readiness of his 51-member Democratic caucus to work on immigration solutions but cautioned against a hardline approach by GOP members.

Schumer urged his fellow Democrats to engage more with Republicans in order to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, a sentiment he had also expressed prior to the Thanksgiving recess. He warned that long nights, days, and even possible weekend work may be necessary to reach a resolution.

A bipartisan group, including Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), has been working for several weeks to clinch a deal that would incorporate Biden's request for over $100 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and border security, along with changes to U.S. asylum and parole policies.

Before the Thanksgiving recess, asylum issues were reportedly the biggest obstacle in moving forward, according to insiders familiar with the negotiations.

Although there are likely enough votes to provide tens of billions more in aid to Ukraine, Republicans have made it clear that they will only support such funding with a border security deal in place. They believe that House Speaker Mike Johnson will not take up a bill without border security provisions. Schumer's push for a Senate vote in early December establishes a deadline for the ongoing talks, which may be necessary, as Congress has already passed two spending bills this fall that exclude aid to Ukraine, and the situation is expected to become more challenging in the new year.

Highlighting the significance of providing support to Ukraine, Schumer wrote in the letter, "Nothing would make autocrats like Putin or Xi happier right now than to see the United States waver in our support for the Ukrainian people and its military." He emphasized that the issue at hand is not solely about Ukrainian or Transatlantic security but encompasses American security as well.

In addition, Schumer confirmed that an all-senators briefing on Ukraine will be held in the coming days, demonstrating the importance and urgency of the situation at hand.