Senators urge more support for Ukraine war effort

U.S. lawmakers have been pressing Biden’s administration to do more for Ukraine - providing their political support for sanctions on Russian leadership, a ban on Russian oil imports to the U.S. Biden on Wednesday did announce that the U.S. will send another $500 million in direct aid to Ukraine as the conflict continues. At the same time, the Senate was working to pass legislation suspending Russia's favored trade status - a measure that has been tangled over a related human rights provision, even though there is widespread support for suspending normal trade relations and halting Russian oil imports. Lawmakers emerging from intelligence briefings and meetings with the Ukrainian lawmakers kept up a largely unified front, with both Republicans and Democrats saying more funding would be needed, beyond the nearly $14 billion in military and humanitarian aid recently approved.