U.S. President Joe Biden has known as for the Home of Representatives to shortly move a invoice that would supply billions of {dollars} in assist to Ukraine, difficult Republicans lawmakers to take a stand in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and vote in favor of the spending package deal.
Biden urged rapid passage of the invoice in feedback on the White Home on February 13 after Home Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican-Louisiana) sharply criticized the $95.3 billion assist package deal for Ukraine, Israel, and different international locations, casting severe doubts on its future simply hours after it handed the Senate.
”I urge speaker Johnson to convey it to the ground instantly, instantly,” Biden mentioned, including that it’s ”essential” for Ukraine.
Johnson mentioned in a press release late on February 12 that the invoice was “silent on essentially the most urgent subject going through our nation” — border safety provisions that Republicans had insisted be included within the invoice, casting doubt on its possibilities of passing the Home.
Biden did not point out border safety in his feedback from the White Home however reminded Republicans that america ”stands up for freedom” and stands sturdy for its allies.
”We by no means bow right down to anybody, definitely to not Vladimir Putin, so let’s get on with this,” Biden mentioned. ”We will not stroll away now. That is what Putin is betting on.”
Biden, a Democrat, warned Republicans within the Home who assume they will oppose funding for Ukraine and never be held accountable that ”historical past is watching” and a failure to assist Ukraine at this essential second ”won’t ever be forgotten.”
He additionally criticized current feedback by former President Donald Trump about NATO as ”harmful” and ”shockingly un-American.”
Biden reiterated Trump’s declare that he instructed NATO allies that in the event that they did not spent sufficient on protection, he would encourage Russians to ”do regardless of the hell they need.”
”Are you able to think about a former president of america saying that?” Biden requested. ”No different president in our historical past has ever bowed right down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can. I by no means will,” he added.
He accused Trump, the present front-runner within the race to grow to be the Republican social gathering’s presidential nominee, of taking a look at NATO as if it had been a ”burden” and failing to see an alliance that ”protects America and the world.” To Trump it’s a ”safety racket,” and he doesn’t perceive that NATO is constructed on the elemental ideas of freedom, safety and nationwide sovereignty, he mentioned.
The U.S. president additionally pressured that the invoice additionally supplies funding for different U.S. national-security priorities within the Center East, the place the U.S. navy has launched quite a few assaults in opposition to militias backed by Iran, and cash to assist defend Israel in its battle in opposition to Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and the EU.
It additionally supplies funding to assist U.S. national-security targets in Asia, Biden mentioned, saying that is the ”duty of an ideal nation.”
In Kyiv, Ihor Zhovkva, deputy director of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s workplace, instructed RFE/RL that the invoice’s passage by the Senate was ”a really severe sign,” and a ”sturdy resolution” was anticipated from the Home of Representatives.
The invoice handed the Senate by a vote of 70-29, and Zhovkva mentioned the approval of 70 senators will make it troublesome to seek out causes for not voting for the invoice.
”We now have each cause to hope that the corresponding sturdy resolution will probably be permitted within the Home of Representatives,” Zhovkva famous.