Biden: ‘Extreme Republicans Are Playing Chicken with Our National Security’
President puts pressure on Republicans as the clock ticks down for Ukraine
President Biden is continuing to fight for further US assistance for Ukraine, even as the clock ticks away at the potential for Congress to pass such legislation before their upcoming holiday recess.
Without passage of the new legislation Biden and others are seeking, US aid to help Ukraine fight off the brutal, ongoing Russian invasion will lapse at the end of the year.
The United States has been leading a NATO and global coalition of nations supporting the embattled Ukraine as it fights to repel the full-scale invasion Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered nearly two years ago.
But Congress remains stalled on legislation that would provide new funding for Ukraine as it battles to push back Russian forces, as well as money for Israel’s war with Hamas and other security needs.
Republicans on Capitol Hill are refusing to consider that new international aid unless Democrats agree to draconian policy shifts on US immigration.
The Biden administration has said funding to aid Ukraine is running out, and the Pentagon packages of weapons and other equipment for the war have become much smaller in recent months.
Biden himself attempted a last-minute effort Wednesday at the White House to cajole support for further aid to Ukraine.
“This cannot wait. Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess. It’s as simple as that,” the president said. “
Frankly, I think it’s stunning that we’ve gotten to this point in the first place. While Congress — the Republicans in Congress is — are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for and abandon our global leadership not just to Ukraine, but beyond that.
He appealed to outrage over the atrocities being committed by Putin and his military.
“Russian forces are committing war crimes. It’s as simple as that. It’s stunning,” Biden said. “Who is prepared to walk away from holding Putin accountable for this behavior? Who among us is really prepared to do that?”
The American people should take pride in their support for the fight in Ukraine, the president said.
“And the people of the United States can and should take pride — they should take pride that we’ve enabled Ukraine’s success thanks to the steady supply of weapons and ammunition we’ve provided them together with our partners and our allies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Republicans are playing political games, according to Biden.
“Extreme Republicans are playing chicken with our national security holding Ukraine’s funding hostage to their extreme partisan border policies,” he said.
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