Biden Announces More Aid for Ukraine During Zelenskyy Visit

(RepublicanPress.org) – According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the United States gave Ukraine a total of $75.4 billion in aid between January 24, 2022, and October 31 of this year. That assistance fits several categories, including $2.7 billion in humanitarian aid, $26.4 billion in financial aid, $18.3 billion in security assistance, $23.5 billion in weapons and equipment, and $4.5 billion for grants and loans for weapons and equipment. Recently, President Joe Biden announced more assistance for the country.

On December 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House to meet with Biden. At the end of remarks made by both leaders in front of the press, Biden announced he had “just signed another $200 million drawdown” for Ukraine from the Department of Defense. Zelenskyy thanked the president for the assistance.

President Joe Biden announced $200 million in pre-approved aid for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's marathon day of meetings in Washington, DC on Tuesday. https://t.co/NKTk13nII2

— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) December 13, 2023

During the announcement, Biden called on Congress to approve “supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess.” He said if they didn’t, legislators will be handing Russian President Vladimir Putin the “greatest Christmas gift” possible, putting America, Europe, and the world in danger.

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) expressed concerns about approving another aid package for Ukraine, even though he said his meeting with Zelenskyy was “good” and that he stands with the Ukrainian president “against Putin’s brutal invasion.” According to NBC News, Johnson isn’t convinced that Ukraine can defeat Putin and wants a “clear articulation of the strategy” Zelenskyy has to win the war.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said if Putin wins, the US is in danger, stating that Congress needs to “urgently” send aid. But others aren’t too quick to send help. Several GOP members are willing to hold funding for Ukraine until they get funding for the US border, agreeing with the House speaker. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) said there was “no way” an aid package would pass that week.

Congress was set to head into holiday recess at the end of last week, but Schumer revealed that the Senate would be returning on Monday, December 18 in order to continue working to reach a deal on border security and foreign aid.