Why only one US senator opposes Biden’s $40bn aid to Ukraine

United States Senator Rand Paul has single-handedly delayed the passage of a $40bn aid package for Ukraine.

Paul has demanded the legislation be altered to include an inspector general to oversee spending on Ukraine. He denied an offer to hold a vote on the amendment, which was all but assured to fail, but instead refused to support swiftly bringing the aid package to a final vote.

Under Senate rules, unanimous consent among legislators is required to bypass lengthy procedural steps that can delay the passage of legislation.

“No matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America,” Paul said. “We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the US economy.”

Paul has argued that the massive sum is more than the US spends on many domestic programmes and would deepen federal deficits while worsening inflation.

President Joe Biden has been able to pull the package through both Senate and Congress, with bipartisan support.