The United States announced on Wednesday the allocation of $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, the last tranche available without a second vote in the US Congress, reports AFP.

“It is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself,” said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

According to Anthony Blinken, the $250 million in aid is for arms and equipment, including anti-aircraft munitions and artillery munitions.

President Joe Biden has asked Congress for an additional $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, but Republicans are refusing to approve the aid without an agreement with Democrats to strengthen security on the US-Mexico border.

The White House warned that without an additional allocation by the end of the year, the US assistance to Ukraine in the fight to return the territory occupied by Russian troops will end.

Not voting for the additional funds would be the “best gift” given to the Russian president, Biden added, saying that if the Kremlin leader succeeds in taking over Ukraine, “he won’t stop there,” Biden said.

At the negotiations, the Republican and Democratic parties failed to reach an agreement on the aid package for Ukraine, despite repeated pressure from President Biden and calls from his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

Senate leaders Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, and Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said they hoped to be able to vote on aid “early next year.”