WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has warned Republicans that blocking vital US military help for Kyiv threatened the “free world” as talks with congressional top leaders at the White House failed to produce any breakthrough, western media reported on Thursday.
US aid for Ukraine has dried up with Republican lawmakers refusing to approve Biden’s request for 60 billion dollars for Ukraine until the Democrat bows to their demands for steps to curb migration over the Mexican border.
The bitter partisan fight has been intensified by the looming US presidential polls in November, and has raised concerns among Western allies who fear it could harm Ukraine’s fight against Russian invasion.
President Biden told the visiting House of Representatives and Senate leaders that the months-long standoff “endangers the US’ national security, the NATO, and the rest of the free world,” the White House added.
President Biden Warns Republicans at Ukraine Assistance Talks
US president called on Congress to quickly provide more funding to support Ukraine and send a strong signal of Washington’s resolve. Biden also made clear that we should act now to address these challenges at the border.
House speaker Mike Johnson stated it was a “productive talk” but insisted President Biden needed to do more on the matter of migration.
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He said that they must insist that the border be the top priority and they have some consensus around that talks.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated that there was “broad understanding in the room” that the two sides had to find a bipartisan solution over the matter.
The US president himself said several times that he is willing to move forward on the issue of border, he maintained.
Mitch McConnell had indicated that a vote on Ukraine help, along with changes to immigration policy, was a possibility, local media reported.
Ukraine has requested for more help as it tries to push back Moscow’s forces, but after a failed counteroffensive in 2023 it faces increasing fatigue not just in the US but in other Western countries.
