Biden meets congressional leaders in fresh push for Ukraine aid and border security

President Joe Biden was set to meet Wednesday with the top four congressional leaders from both parties as he pushes for an elusive deal to unlock billions in aid for embattled Ukraine and secure the southern border.

House Speaker Mike Johnson will attend the White House meeting along with other top leaders. But he and his far right-wing Republican caucus have vowed to block any deal that does not rubber stamp their sweeping proposals for an extensive crackdown on illegal immigration.

Many House GOP lawmakers also oppose more money to help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion that is nearing its second anniversary.

Senate negotiators from both parties say they have been making slow but steady progress to a $110 billion deal that would include some, but not all, of the Republican border proposals.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a strong supporter of aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and has pushed for a deal that would also ease the crisis at the border with billions of new funding.

But it’s not clear how or if they can break the logjam in the House, where Johnson’s narrow majority could presumably block any deal.