Schumer urges senators to remain in D.C. to vote on Ukraine aid

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has urged upper chamber lawmakers to return to Washington next week to finish a plan to approve aid to Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Republicans have remained resolute in their demands for border security reforms in order to approve further support to Kyiv, though thus far the negotiations have not resulted in a public agreement. House Republicans, meanwhile, plan to leave D.C. at the end of this week for the Christmas break, potentially minimizing the impact of senators lingering in the capital.

"Members need to be here next week. We need to get this done," he said, according to Punchbowl News's Jake Sherman. "We WILL vote on a supplemental proposal next week."

The senior New York senator on Thursday posted a litany of challenges to Republicans on the matter.

"Republicans say action on the border is urgent. If they’re serious about getting something done, they should not be so eager to go home. There is a lot of work left to do," he said. 

"To Republicans: The world is watching what Congress does right now. Our friends are watching. Our adversaries are watching. Putin is watching closely. Democrats will keep working. There is too much on the line for Ukraine, for America, for democracy," he went on.

"To the Republicans: Putin is eager to see America abandon Ukraine and thinks he is getting that done—working in part through Trump. What Putin said just now about American aid to Ukraine: 'the free stuff is going to run out some day, and it seems it already is.' We must act," he insisted.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.