Joe Biden warns that Russia is “counting” on a halt to US aid to Ukraine. “We have to prove (V. Putin) that he is wrong,” said the American president.
Joe Biden warns Republicans who are blocking the vote on a new aid package for Ukraine.
According to the American president, “history will judge harshly those who turned their backs on the cause of freedom.”
American conservative elected officials are blocking an additional $61 billion in military aid for kyiv.
Joe Biden spoke following an interview he had at the White House with Volodymyr Zelensky.
Joe Biden, US President: “Without additional funding, we are quickly reaching the end of our ability to help Ukraine meet the urgent operational demands it has. Putin is banking on the failure of the United States to help the Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine: “It is very important that at the end of this year we can send a very strong signal of our unity to the aggressor and the unity of Ukraine, of the America, Europe, the entire free world.”
Zelenskyy earlier met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson, who following the meeting said he told Ukraine’s leader that the US Congress “is with him and against the brutal invasion of Putin”, but qualified his support.
Volodymyr Zelensky assures that Ukrainian troops “prove every day that Ukraine can win” and says he has perceived “positive” signals during his talks in Congress.
Mike Johnson is the Republican leader of the House of Representatives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson: “The American people stand for freedom, and they are on the right side of this fight. I have asked the White House since the day I received the gavel as president of the House, clarity. We need a clear articulation of the strategy to enable Ukraine to win…what the Biden administration seems to be asking for is billions more dollars without proper oversight, without clear strategy to win and none of the answers I think the American people deserve.”
In theory, American elected officials have until Friday to reach an agreement on the new aid package for Ukraine.
In exchange for their support, conservatives are demanding a major tightening of US immigration policy.
Joe Biden accuses them of keeping Ukraine “hostage” and playing into Moscow’s hands.
