Just a day after a show of American solidarity with the new Prime Minister of Ukraine, rival aid bills for that nation derailed in Congress, as lawmakers leave town for a ten day break without giving final approval to any financial aid or sanctions against the Russian government for the nation's military actions in Crimea.
"The first legislative matter when we get back will be this," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who stood off to the side on the floor as Republicans took aim at each other over the impasse.
On one side was Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), as he blasted fellow GOP Senators for blocking fast action on a on a bill that combined aid for Ukraine and new economic sanctions against Russia.
"Don't call yourself Reagan Republicans," McCain thundered on the Senate floor, again crossing swords with more junior members of his own party who didn't like how the aid plan was put together.
"Ronald Reagan would never let this kind of aggression go unresponded to by the American people," McCain added, as he prepared to fly with other Senators to visit Ukraine this weekend.
The House and Senate had moved forward with different plans on Ukraine - the House last week approved a bill that could offer up to $1 billion in loan guarantees, but no sanctions against Russia were approved.
The Senate was trying to bring up a bill that had both aid and sanctions against Russia, but it introduced some extra subjects that drew the opposition of GOP Senators.
Part of the delay dealt with a plan to include reforms for the International Monetary Fund, which didn't go over well with a number of Republicans.
"The IMF money has nothing to with Ukraine," Speaker John Boehner told reporters, as he dumped on the idea at his weekly news conference.
Congress will now put Ukraine aid on hold for ten days until the week of March 24.
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