On Wednesday, Joe Biden, the President of the United States, that he was worried that US political turmoil could disrupt wartime aid for Ukraine, but said he would shortly deliver a major speech to persuade doubters to support Kyiv.
When he was asked whether the ousting of Republican House speaker Kevin McCarthy by hardliners in his party could derail more funds for Ukraine’s war effort, Biden answered, “It does worry me.”
He told reporters at the White House, “But I know there are a majority of members of the House and Senate of both parties who have said that they support funding Ukraine.”
A last-gasp agreement to evade a US government shutdown at the weekend had no new funding for Ukraine, and expectations for a quick solution have been further complicated by McCarthy’s withdrawal on Tuesday.
The comment of Biden recalled a change of tone, as the White House had once said that he had told supporters in a call on Tuesday that he was “confident” of getting new assistance passed.
Biden said he would now create the case for the significance of supporting Ukraine as it fights the full-scale attack launched by Russia in February 2022.
Washington is by far the immense ally of Kyiv, committing more than $43 billion in military aid to Ukraine so far, while Congress has approved a total of $113 billion in assistance including humanitarian help.
Biden said, “I’m going to be announcing very shortly a major speech I’m going to make on this issue, and why it’s critically important for the United States and our allies that we keep our commitment.”
The US president added that the speech would “make the argument that it’s overwhelmingly in the interests of the US that Kyiv succeed.”
Biden refused to say when he would make the speech, and the White House said it had no other details.
