Biden urges congressional leaders to continue aid to Ukraine

INA-  SOURCES


S President Joe Biden urged congressional leaders during a meeting at the White House yesterday (Wednesday) to continue US aid to Ukraine, which is currently frozen due to a lack of agreement between Republicans and Democrats on additional funding, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

The White House said, in a statement after the meeting, that the US President “was clear that Congress’ inability to act jeopardizes the security of the United States, NATO, and the rest of the free world.”

In the House of Representatives, where the majority are Republicans, the situation is different. Its conservative chairman, Mike Johnson, said that the meeting was “productive,” and stressed that he “understands the importance” of the assistance provided to Ukraine, but he stressed that “the biggest priority is the border” with Mexico, where thousands of migrants arrive daily.

The US President is requesting $61 billion to continue military aid to Ukraine, but Republicans in the House of Representatives are demanding in return a clear tightening of his immigration policy.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that the meeting with Biden was “very positive,” calling for a “simultaneous” solution to the issues of immigration and aid to Ukraine, on the basis of consensus between the two parties.

He stressed that he is “more optimistic than ever” about the possibility of quickly reaching an agreement in the Senate regarding these two files, and also about helping Israel and supporting Taiwan, which are Biden’s other two strategic priorities.
Before the meeting, White House spokesman John Kirby stressed “the urgent and urgent need to continue delivering weapons and equipment to Ukraine.”

He pointed out that the last American aid announced was on December 27, “and there has been no other aid since then, and there will not be another until we obtain funding.”
Johnson is playing a delicate role after assuming the presidency of the House of Representatives in October, following the unprecedented dismissal of his predecessor. Yesterday, he repeated that he wants “answers to questions related to the strategy” in Ukraine and the “ultimate goal.”
Some representatives belonging to the extreme right do not want to hear about new aid to Ukraine, and may threaten to oust the Speaker of the House of Representatives again if the latter acts with the support of the Democrats.

Schumer said that “the only way to resolve the border issue and the Ukraine issue (…) is through consensus” between representatives of the two parties.

Congress is also negotiating an agreement on temporary funding to prevent paralysis in federal departments, on Friday.
Schumer said late yesterday that the Senate is expected to vote on the proposal this afternoon in order to “give Congress sufficient time to continue working” on a more comprehensive budget.

The situation is uncomfortable for Biden, who is working on his electoral campaign in an attempt to win a second presidential term, as he risks angering his more progressive supporters if he tightens his immigration policy.



SOURCE: west observer