President Joe Biden has issued a stern warning to Congress, urging them to maintain continuous American aid for Ukraine.
His message came after funding for Ukraine was dropped from a last-minute stopgap bill passed by the US Senate.
Biden Urges Unwavering Support for Ukraine
In a statement from the Roosevelt Room on Sunday, President Biden stressed the critical need to ensure that support for Ukraine remains uninterrupted. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the fact that the stopgap funding bill is effective only until mid-November, necessitating swift action.
While Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing the short-term funding package late on Saturday, additional assistance for Ukraine in its battle against Russia was excluded. President Biden promptly signed the bill into law but is now urging Congress to expedite negotiations for an aid package.
He emphasized the widespread bipartisan support for assisting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression and implored Congress to move swiftly, urging them to prioritize and act decisively.
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Hurdles in Providing Aid to Ukraine
However, there is a concerning resistance within the Republican party against providing aid to Ukraine, creating a rare crossroads situation in Washington. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer initiated a process to consider legislation offering additional aid to Ukraine, but House Speaker and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy faced significant opposition within his GOP majority.
McCarthy expressed a priority for border security while supporting the need to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary weapons. Despite his efforts to avoid a shutdown by halting immediate aid clearance for Kyiv, the move cost the White House a Senate package that would have allocated $6 billion to Ukraine.
While both the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the stopgap measure to prevent a costly government shutdown, President Biden is working to reassure US allies that more funds will be allocated to Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials are actively downplaying the potential threat posed by the stopgap bill, emphasizing ongoing discussions with both Republicans and Democrats. They stressed that US support for Kyiv remains steadfast, recognizing the larger significance of what is at stake in Ukraine beyond its borders.
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