"We've heard it all before": Republicans say Zelenskiy's speech in the Senate did not change their minds

Senior Senator Lindsey Graham told the BBC that "nothing has changed" after the senators' meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I admire him, but he hasn't changed my mind one bit about what we need to do," Graham said. "They (Democrats) are just trying to use him.

According to the senator, he told Zelenskyy that the security of the US borders is a key issue for the deal.

As a reminder, the $60 billion US military aid package was frozen in the Senate a few days ago by Republicans, as they linked the decision to the need for decisive reforms in immigration policy.

In particular, they are talking about additional measures to reduce the number of migrants trying to illegally cross the US border.

Graham says that he theoretically supports funding for Ukraine, but insists that he cannot vote for the bill as long as Democrats ignore the border problem. According to him, the number of people crossing the southern border with ties to terrorists is staggering.

Republican Senator Eric Schmitt said after the meeting with Zelenskyy that he heard nothing new:

"The questions were very much prepared in advance. They were questions asked to elicit a certain response. We have already heard all this," he said.

According to him, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and "none of those who advocate the allocation of $60 billion" have not said "what victory looks like, how we will come to it."

"All of these major questions that decide the ultimate fate of this case are simply not answered," Schmitt said.

"When you come to the U.S. Congress and ask for $60 billion – on top of the $112 billion, knowing that another $100 billion may be available next year – I think we're entitled to more concrete answers," the Republican senator said.

Background. As a reminder, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced his meeting with the senators on his Telegram channel, calling it "a friendly, frank meeting in the US Senate, which is an important confirmation of support for Ukraine in its struggle for independence, freedom and democracy."