As funding for the war in Ukraine dries up, Biden and the Democrats are taking desperate measures to pass a spending package that includes $60 billion for Ukraine.
Efforts to send more money to Ukraine have been met with resistance by Republicans, who just last week refused to pass a $111 billion spending bill that included Ukrainian aid without border security funding.
Now, Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky to D.C. to speak at an all-senators meeting and have a personal meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol.
The Ukrainian President is planning his D.C. trip for Tuesday.
Check it out:
BREAKING: U.S. House Speaker Johnson will meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky at U.S. Capitol on Tuesday as debate intensifies in DC about whether or not to link an aid package to border security.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 10, 2023
The Hill has more details on the upcoming meeting between House Speaker Johnson and Zelensky:
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, amid stalled negotiations to deliver aid to the war-torn country, Johnson’s spokesperson said Sunday.
The news comes just after the Biden administration announced the president invited Zelensky for a meeting at the White House on Tuesday.
The meetings will take place against the backdrop of a divided Congress struggling to reach a deal that would provide aid to Ukraine and tackle other priorities as well.
Last week, Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would have provided aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia and aid to Israel in its war against Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Republicans, however, have said they would not vote for an aid package that does not also include provisions addressing the U.S. southern border with Mexico.
While Johnson has said he thinks Ukraine aid is important, he faces a challenge as many in his party are losing their appetite to pass more aid for Ukraine. He has told Senate Republicans that as much of the House-passed GOP H.R.2 border bill should be included in the package as possible.
The New York Post also reported:
President Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the White House to show solidarity with the wartorn country, it was announced Sunday.
Zelensky is invited to the White House for a meeting Tuesday to “underscore the United States’ unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
“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,” Jean-Pierre added.
Zelensky last visited Washington, DC, in September following a trip to the UN General Assembly Summit of World Leaders in New York.
At the time, Biden was pressing Congress for $24 billion in additional assistance to the war-torn nation.
Congress has yet to greenlight more aid. Now that ask is hovering around $61 billion, according to a sprawling $106 billion supplemental the White House unveiled in October featuring support for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the border.
This X user has a great point about the Ukrainian leader’s upcoming visit:
Zelensky to come to DC again?
Never in the history of the United States has the White House hosted a corrupt foreign leader this many times, while simultaneously trying to extort billions of taxpayer dollars for that foreign leader every time.
Given Biden’s corrupt prior…
— Kevin M. Nelson (@KevinMNelsonUSA) December 10, 2023
What do you think about Zelensky coming to D.C. again?
Is it a waste of time or will Republicans cave under pressure?
Dear Speaker Johnson
You can skip the meeting with Zelensky b/c we don’t want to send 1 more dollar to that money laundering operation killing tens of thousands of Ukrainian’s best people
And please don’t wear a Ukraine flag pin
That last Speaker who did that got vacated https://t.co/j8D61ReHyF
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) December 10, 2023
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!