President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will meet at the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in its war with Russia.
Quick Read
- Biden-Zelenskyy Meeting: President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet at the White House to discuss support for Ukraine.
- U.S. Commitment to Ukraine: The meeting aims to reinforce the U.S.’s strong support for Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion.
- Ukraine’s Urgent Needs: Discussions will focus on Ukraine’s immediate requirements and the significance of continued U.S. support.
- Zelenskyy’s Senate Address: Zelenskyy has also been invited to address a meeting of all U.S. senators.
- Biden’s Funding Request: Biden has requested Congress for $110 billion for wartime funding, including support for Ukraine and Israel, amid debates over U.S. immigration policy.
- Zelenskyy’s International Engagements: Zelenskyy attended the swearing-in of Argentina’s new president and was scheduled to address U.S. senators via video.
- Funding Shortage for Ukraine: The U.S. is close to exhausting its allocated funds for aiding Ukraine, with potential battlefield implications.
- Secretary of State Blinken’s Statements: Blinken emphasized the urgency of supporting Ukraine and also defended the sale of tank ammunition to Israel.
- Congressional Approval for Military Sales: Blinken stressed the importance of congressional review for most military sales to Israel, except the emergency tank ammunition sale.
- Immigration Policy Debate Affecting Aid: The broader aid package is entangled in U.S. immigration policy discussions.
- Bipartisan Agreement on Border Security: Senators across party lines agree on the need to address U.S. border security.
- Differing Views on Aid to Ukraine: Republican senators have questioned the justification for additional aid to Ukraine.
- Support for Ukrainian Aid: Both Republican and Democratic senators expressed support for aiding Ukraine, citing national and democratic interests.
- Media Appearances: The discussions and statements regarding these issues were made on various television programs like “This Week,” “State of the Union,” “Meet the Press,” and “Face the Nation.”
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden will meet Zelenskyy at WH amid a stepped-up push for Congress to approve more aid
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
President Joe Biden and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will meet at the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in its war with Russia.
The visit is intended “to underscore the United States’ unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion,” the White House said in a statement Sunday. “As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraine’s urgent needs and the vital importance of the United States’ continued support at this critical moment.”
Zelenskyy’s office confirmed that he had accepted Biden’s invitation. He also has been asked to speak to a meeting of all senators.
Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine ($61.4 billion) and Israel, along with other national security priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security.
Zelenskyy traveled to Buenos Aires to witness the swearing-in on Sunday of Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei. The Ukrainian leader had been scheduled to address U.S. senators by video last week, but had to cancel the appearance, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Congress already has allocated $111 billion to assist Ukraine, and Biden’s budget director, Shalanda Young, said in a letter this past week to House and Senate leaders that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, which would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield.
“It’s time to cut a deal that both sides can agree to,” Young said Sunday.
The stakes are especially high for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during two television interviews Sunday, given that “ we are running out of funding ” for the Ukrainians. “This is a time to really step up because if we don’t, we know what happens. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won’t stop in Ukraine.”
Earlier, he defended the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition and also called for quick congressional approval of the foreign assistance. Blinken said the needs of Israel’s military operations in Gaza justify the rare decision to bypass Congress. “Israel is in combat right now with Hamas,” he said. “And we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Hamas.”
The tank ammunition and related support constitute only a small portion of military sales to Israel, Blinken said, and that the rest remains subject to congressional review. “It’s very important that Congress‘ voice be heard in this,” he said.
The decision to proceed with the sale of more than $106 million for tank shells came as the administration’s larger aid package is caught up in a larger immigration debate.
Blinken noted that Biden has said he is willing to make significant compromises to get the aid package moving. “It’s something the president is fully prepared to engage on,” Blinken said.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said there is bipartisan agreement that something has to be done to address record numbers of migrants crossing into the United States from Mexico.
“We want to solve that, to secure the border. I just saw the president of the United States say that we’ve got to secure the border. He’s right. So, any effort that doesn’t do that will be rejected by Republicans,” Romney said.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said the administration has yet to justify additional aid to Ukraine. “So what we’re saying to the president and really to the entire world is, you need to articulate what the ambition is. What is $61 billion going to accomplish that $100 billion hasn’t?” Vance said.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the money would make a difference because Russia is struggling to fund its war effort. “It can change the outcome of this war,” Murphy said. “Because at the very same time that we are making a renewed commitment to Ukraine, Russia’s ability to continue to fight this war is in jeopardy.”
Romney said he also supports the aid to Ukraine. “My own view is that it’s very much in America’s interest to see Ukraine successful and to provide the weapons that Ukraine needs to defend itself. Anything other than that would be a huge dereliction of our responsibility, I believe, to the world of democracy but also to our own national interest,” he said.
Blinken appeared on ABC’s “This Week” and CNN’s “State of the Union.” Romney and Murphy were on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Vance was on CNN. Young was on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
