Congressional leaders hope to avoid a shutdown. But Ukraine aid is still unclear

Congressional leaders emerged from an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday saying they were optimistic that they could reach a deal before a Friday deadline to avert a partial government shutdown.

But the leaders appeared to remain divided on Ukraine funding, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., insisting that addressing the situation at the border needed to be the top priority.

"My purpose was to express what I believe is the obvious truth, and that is that we must take care of America's needs first," Johnson told reporters after the meeting.

The hour-long meeting focused on three contentious issues that have roiled Congress:

• a series of annual bills required to fund government
• an emergency funding bill that includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, and
• the large numbers of migrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico. Crossings, including requests for asylum, have overwhelmed resources at the borders and in cities and states around the country.

Johnson says he is focused on the border

Earlier this month the Senate reached a deal that included funding for Ukraine and other national security priorities — including policy measures for the border. The White House backed that bill but Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have refused to hold a vote on the measure. Former President Donald Trump, who is the frontrunner to become the Republican nominee for this year's presidential election, opposes the package.

Johnson said the House would actively look at Ukraine funding "in a timely manner" but also reiterated that Biden needed to take executive action to restrict the number of migrants crossing the southern border. "It's time for action, it's a catastrophe and it must stop," he said.

Biden, who is traveling to