The White House warned Tuesday of dire consequences if Congress fails to pass additional aid for Ukraine, warning of a potential Russian conquest and adding that “time is not our friend.”
John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters that forcing Ukraine to go without U.S. aid for even a short period could allow for Russia to move in.
“A lapse in support for even a short period of time could make all the difference on the battlefield,” he warned.
“Just as critically such a lapse in support will make Putin believe that he can wait us out and that he can continue the conflict until we and our allies and partners fold,” he added.
He continued by saying that supporting Ukraine not only “strengthens our national security,” but is also morally the “right thing to do.”
President Biden held a call with U.S. allies Tuesday to reassure them about the country’s support for Ukraine.
He was joined by leaders from Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and France. A leader from NATO was on the call as well, according to the White House.
The call comes after the passage of a clean stopgap measure over the weekend that provided no new aid for Ukraine. There is some aid left from the 2023 funding bill, but it will soon run out.
Mr. Biden has been very vocal about calling for the House to vote on additional funding for Ukraine, saying Sunday that Congress must “stop playing games, get this done.”
Mr. Kirby said that “regardless of what happens in the House of Representatives, that all the House leadership is supportive of continuing to help Ukraine, and the vast majority of House members on the Republican side are in support of continuing to help Ukraine.”
He added that it’s a “small minority of vocal members” that are the ones pushing back on the additional aid, but they don’t represent their party or its leadership.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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