President Joe Biden called on Congress on Wednesday to put aside partisan differences and promptly pass a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine, warning that failure to do so could enable President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to reclaim momentum in the war. Efforts to resupply Ukraine as well as Israel appear at an impasse as Republicans insist on conditioning aid to immigration measures that Democrats oppose. A classified briefing for senators on Tuesday devolved into a partisan shouting match, and prospects for bipartisan consensus anytime soon seemed to fade as the Senate headed toward a vote on Wednesday. “This cannot wait,” he said in a televised statement at the White House. “Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess. Simple as that. Frankly, I think it’s stunning that we’ve gotten to this point in the first place. Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he can hope for and abandon our global leadership.”
Quick Read
- Biden’s Plea for Ukraine Aid: President Joe Biden urged Republicans to support additional military aid for Ukraine, warning that a Russian victory could lead to attacks on NATO allies and potentially involve American troops.
- New Aid Package Announcement: The U.S. plans to announce $175 million in additional aid for Ukraine, with current funds running low.
- Funding Situation: The U.S. Defense Department has used most of its allocated funds, and the State Department has exhausted its military assistance funding for Ukraine.
- Limited Replenishment Authority: The U.S. faces constraints with less than $1 billion in replenishment authority, which could impact future support and equipment stocks.
- Border Security Negotiations: Discussions about Ukraine aid are influenced by border security issues, with Republicans pushing for border wall construction and asylum policy changes.
- Biden’s Compromise Stance: Biden expressed willingness to compromise on border issues but emphasized the need for negotiation.
- Urgency of Ukraine Assistance: Biden highlighted the critical need for Congressional approval of military and economic assistance for Ukraine, framing it as a matter of American credibility and a counter to Putin’s ambitions.
- G7 and Zelenskyy Discussions: Biden’s address followed discussions with G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasizing strong support for Ukraine.
- Funding Request and Congressional Resistance: Biden requested nearly $106 billion for wars in Ukraine, Israel, and other security needs, facing resistance in Congress, particularly from some Republicans.
- Border Security Funding and Policy Changes: While supporting more border security funding, Biden accused Republicans of prioritizing political issues over genuine compromise.
- Consequences of Aid Delay: The White House warned of severe consequences for Ukraine’s military efforts if aid is not approved soon.
- Details of Military Aid Package: The new military aid package for Ukraine includes guided missiles, anti-armor systems, and high-speed anti-radiation missiles.
- Remaining U.S. Military Funding: The Pentagon has about $1.1 billion left for replenishing stockpiles and approximately $4.8 billion in drawdown authority for Ukraine aid.
Reuters has the story:
Biden presses Congress to OK Ukraine aid PKG: ‘Don’t let Putin win’
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, (Reuters)
President Joe Biden pleaded with Republicans for a fresh infusion of military aid for Ukraine on Wednesday, warning that a victory for Russia over Ukraine would leave Moscow in position to attack NATO allies.
Biden spoke as the United States planned to announce $175 million in additional Ukraine aid from its dwindling supply of money for Kyiv.
“If Putin takes Ukraine, he won’t stop there,” Biden said. Putin will attack a NATO ally, he predicted, and then “we’ll have American troops fighting Russian troops,” Biden said.
“We can’t let Putin win,” he said.
The White House warned this week that the U.S. is running out of time and money help Ukraine repel Russia’s invasion.
By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding it had received and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding it had been allocated, U.S. budget director Shalanda Young said this week.
A U.S. official said the United States has less than $1 billion in “replenishment authority.” This means that if Congress does not provide new funds to buy replacement equipment, and the Pentagon runs out of funds it can reprogram to keep corporate contracts flowing, the U.S., Ukraine and arms makers may be forced to take other steps to backfill stocks.
Border security with Mexico is a major issue weighing on the negotiations about Ukraine and Israel funding.
House and Senate Republicans are backing renewed construction of a border wall, former President Donald Trump’s signature goal, while deeming large numbers of migrants ineligible for asylum and reviving a controversial policy under which asylum seekers are told to remain in Mexico while their immigration case is heard.
Biden said he was willing to make “significant” compromises on the border issue but said Republicans will not get everything they want.
“This has to be a negotiation,” he said.
Biden said it was “stunning” that Congress has not yet approved tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance for Ukraine, as his administration warned of dire consequences for Kyiv — and a “gift” to Russia’s Vladimir Putin — if lawmakers don’t act.
Speaking at the White House, Biden said Republicans who are insisting on border policy changes as a condition for voting for the aid “are playing chicken with our national security,” even as he expressed openness to some changes.
“Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for,” Biden said, saying American credibility was on the line both with other would-be aggressors and with its allies. “Any disruption in our ability to supply Ukraine clearly strengthen’s Putin’s position.”
Biden’s address comes hours after he huddled with leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies, which have staunchly supported Ukraine against Russia’s ongoing invasion, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Biden has asked Congress for nearly $106 billion to fund the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs, but has faced stiff resistance on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans have grown tired of providing support to Ukraine after the U.S. has already sent $111 billion, and other GOP lawmakers are insisting on stiff changes to U.S. border policy as a condition of voting for the measure.
Biden said he supports more funding for border security, adding, “I’m ready to change policy as well,” but accused Republicans of wanting a political issue more than bipartisan compromise.
The White House has sent increasingly sharp warnings to lawmakers of what would happen if they don’t approve the measure before the end of the year, saying Ukraine’s military would be stalled, or worse.
“We’re the reason Putin hasn’t totally overrun Ukraine,” Biden said.
In a letter to House and Senate leaders, released publicly on Monday, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, saying that would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield.
The U.S. is expected to announce a $175 million package of military aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, including guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems and high-speed anti-radiation missiles, according to U.S. officials.
Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said Tuesday there is about $1.1 billion left in funding to replenish U.S. military stockpiles for weapons and equipment sent to Ukraine. And he said there is roughly $4.8 billion in drawdown authority still available.
