With Russia warning of "boomerangs" and China threatening "unforeseeable consequences" it appears gridlock in Washington is (coincidentally) enabling the US to sit out the first round of shenanigans responses over this weekend's Crimea referendum.
- *KERRY SAYS `WE NEED AID FOR UKRAINE AND WE NEED IT NOW'
But as AP reports, Congress won't be able to authorize aid to Ukraine until after March 24 amid disagreements among several Republican. Simply put, No Aid For You...
Via AP,
Congress won't be able to authorize aid to Ukraine until after March 24 amid disagreements among several Republican.
The Senate is unlikely to vote before leaving for recess Thursday evening on a bill approving $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine, sanctions on Russia and International Monetary Fund reforms. Four Republicans backed it as the Foreign Relations Committee voted 14-3 in favor Wednesday.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner urged the Senate anew Thursday to adopt House-approved legislation for the loans, without sanctions or IMF provisions.
Many in his caucus reject expanding the IMF's lending capacity, which every other major country has approved.
They say it increases U.S. taxpayer exposure; the counterargument is it immediately releases money for Ukraine.
Other Republicans oppose paying for the loans with unused military money.
Of course, the timing is perfect for the administration to look like they are moving forward and yet not... actually avoiding the sanctions that will likely come back to bite.
It seems, however, Ukraine's Yatsenyuk thinks it's a done-deal...
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk has met with the top three figures in the U.S. House of Representatives - Speaker John Boehner, majority leader Republican Eric Cantor and minority leader Nancy Pelosi - during a working visit to the United States.
"The American lawmakers made assurances of their intention to consolidate bipartisan efforts for giving urgent and long-term assistance to Ukraine and its government for urgent reforms. They pointed out that safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine is a matter of principle for the House of Representatives," the Ukrainian government said in a statement.
Yatsenyuk expressed hope that the United States would soon legalize a quota redistribution that would enable Ukraine to obtain an extra $600 million.
American "promises" and political "principles"?