"Stalled Talks: White House and Congress Struggle to Reach Last-Minute Deals on Ukraine Aid and Immigration"

Senators are unlikely to strike a deal this week that would tighten US immigration laws and approve billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine. GOP Senator James Lankford, leading the negotiations, expressed doubt that an agreement could be reached by the end of the week, citing unresolved issues and accusing the White House of excluding him from discussions. With time running out before the holiday recess, Republican senators are demanding changes to the US asylum system as a condition for approving the aid package. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Biden and lawmakers in a last-ditch effort to secure additional funding.