Senate Republicans ready to embrace Ukraine, Israel aid bill they previously rejected

Senate Republicans indicated Wednesday they were prepared to help Democrats advance aid for Ukraine and Israel in legislation that excludes a bipartisan border security deal, a remarkable reversal from prior GOP demands to include immigration policies.

A $118 billion package with the border deal and money for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to combat adversaries failed over Republican opposition to the immigration components.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer moved to hold a procedural vote on the standalone foreign aid, which clocks in at $95 billion.

Nearly a dozen key GOP senators — including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and fellow leadership member Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa — signaled they would support the aid without the border deal, potentially meeting the 60-vote filibuster threshold to advance the bill.

“I would have liked to have seen the border security stuff included, but on our side, we’ve got some folks that are uncomfortable with it,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican who will support the stand-alone foreign aid.

The Senate is ultimately back where it was in the fall, before monthslong border negotiations, only this time with Republican support for moving ahead without addressing the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The aid would still need final approval, which could come as soon as later this week before the Senate embarks on a two-week recess.

Republicans emerged from a more than two-hour meeting with the consensus that they need assurances from Mr. Schumer to allow amendment votes before final passage.

But even if the foreign aid clears the upper chamber, its prospects in the Republican-controlled House are dim. House Republicans have previously rejected more aid to Ukraine unless stringent border security measures are attached.

“We’ve got to do what we think is right, and hopefully we’ll get [the House] to reconsider their position,” Mr. Rounds said.