Richard Cowan and David Morgan

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Congress appeared on Tuesday to be close to an agreement that would allocate billions in emergency assistance for Ukraine and fund the federal government until Sept. 30 to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislation is still in the hands of Republican and Democratic congressional leaders. It was to include $1.5 trillion to support defense and nondefense discretionary spending. This includes roughly $12 billion to assist Ukraine with Russia’s invasion, and $15 billion to fund COVID.

“We’re there. “We’re there,” said Senator Richard Shelby (top Republican on Senate Appropriations Committee, and key negotiator), to reporters.

Shelby spoke after Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, stated that the negotiations on Ukraine’s aid package and funding for government were close to being completed.

Schumer spoke on the floor to say that they had made a promise to accomplish something and that it would be possible to declare that this has been accomplished.

Congress must pass legislation by Friday midnight.

Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader in the House of Representatives on Tuesday said to reporters that his chamber plans to continue debating and passing legislation to finance government funding through Wednesday September 30th. He did not rule out the possibility that a temporary stop-gap bill might be needed in case legislation providing complete government funding does not get completed on time.

According to an insider familiar with the negotiations, if Democrats do not release legislation Tuesday, it would be more difficult, but not impossible to pass the bill before Friday’s deadline.

A Wednesday retreat planned for Democrats has already shortened this week’s schedule. Republicans have asked for time to read the massive legislation before they vote, and could not be persuaded to take action immediately following its release.

Democrats desired to make use of strong public support in Ukraine for Republicans to force them to approve the broad “omnibus bill” funding government. It was the fourth such bill this fiscal that temporarily extended funding levels to the preceding year.