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Zelenskyy, Biden to Meet at WH on Aid 12/11 06:07
President Joe Biden and Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will meet at
the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration steps up the pressure on
Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in its war with Russia.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden and Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, will meet at the White House on Tuesday as the U.S. administration
steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in
its war with Russia.
The visit is intended "to underscore the United States' unshakeable
commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves
against Russia's brutal invasion," the White House said in a statement Sunday.
"As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders
will discuss Ukraine's urgent needs and the vital importance of the United
States' continued support at this critical moment."
Zelenskyy's office confirmed that he had accepted Biden's invitation. He
also has been asked to speak to a meeting of all senators.
Biden has asked Congress for a $110 billion package of wartime funding for
Ukraine ($61.4 billion) and Israel, along with other national security
priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration
policy and border security.
Zelenskyy traveled to Buenos Aires to witness the swearing-in on Sunday of
Argentina's new president, Javier Milei. The Ukrainian leader had been
scheduled to address U.S. senators by video last week, but had to cancel the
appearance, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Congress already has allocated $111 billion to assist Ukraine, and Biden's
budget director, Shalanda Young, said in a letter this past week to House and
Senate leaders that the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and
assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, which would "kneecap" Ukraine on
the battlefield.
"It's time to cut a deal that both sides can agree to," Young said Sunday.
The stakes are especially high for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony
Blinken said during two television interviews Sunday, given that " we are
running out of funding " for the Ukrainians. "This is a time to really step up
because if we don't, we know what happens. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin
will be able to move forward with impunity and we know he won't stop in
Ukraine."
Earlier, he defended the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of
tank ammunition and also called for quick congressional approval of the foreign
assistance. Blinken said the needs of Israel's military operations in Gaza
justify the rare decision to bypass Congress. "Israel is in combat right now
with Hamas," he said. "And we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs
to defend itself against Hamas."
The tank ammunition and related support constitute only a small portion of
military sales to Israel, Blinken said, and that the rest remains subject to
congressional review. "It's very important that Congress' voice be heard in
this," he said.
The decision to proceed with the sale of more than $106 million for tank
shells came as the administration's larger aid package is caught up in a larger
immigration debate.
Blinken noted that Biden has said he is willing to make significant
compromises to get the aid package moving. ``It's something the president is
fully prepared to engage on," Blinken said.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said there is bipartisan agreement that something
has to be done to address record numbers of migrants crossing into the United
States from Mexico.
"We want to solve that, to secure the border. I just saw the president of
the United States say that we've got to secure the border. He's right. So, any
effort that doesn't do that will be rejected by Republicans," Romney said.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said the administration has yet to justify additional
aid to Ukraine. "So what we're saying to the president and really to the entire
world is, you need to articulate what the ambition is. What is $61 billion
going to accomplish that $100 billion hasn't?" Vance said.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said the money would make a difference because
Russia is struggling to fund its war effort. "It can change the outcome of this
war," Murphy said. "Because at the very same time that we are making a renewed
commitment to Ukraine, Russia's ability to continue to fight this war is in
jeopardy."
Romney said he also supports the aid to Ukraine. "My own view is that it's
very much in America's interest to see Ukraine successful and to provide the
weapons that Ukraine needs to defend itself. Anything other than that would be
a huge dereliction of our responsibility, I believe, to the world of democracy
but also to our own national interest," he said.
Blinken appeared on ABC's "This Week" and CNN's "State of the Union." Romney
and Murphy were on NBC's "Meet the Press." Vance was on CNN. Young was on CBS'
"Face the Nation."
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