During a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, U.S. President Joe Biden linked the retreat of Ukrainian forces from the strategic town of Avdiivka to the failure of Congress to approve additional aid, impacting Ukraine‘s ability to counter the Russian invasion.
The White House disclosed that the pullback from Avdiivka, a significant battleground in eastern Ukraine, was forced by a shortage of ammunition among Ukrainian troops, a consequence of legislative gridlock in Congress.
This situation underscored the urgency for the legislative body to pass the national security supplemental funding bill to replenish the Ukrainian military’s resources.
The discussion capped a week where the U.S. sought to reaffirm its global leadership, emphasizing the critical need for further support for Ukraine, especially after the withdrawal from Avdiivka and the death of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny.
Biden later expressed concerns about the potential fall of other Ukrainian towns and criticized the lack of U.S. aid as unethical, given the valiant efforts of the Ukrainian people.
Despite the Senate’s approval of a significant foreign aid package, which includes substantial support for Ukraine, the bill faces obstacles in the House, where GOP Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated no intention to present it for a vote, coinciding with a congressional recess. This inaction has raised alarms among U.S. officials about the potential advantages it could provide to Russian forces.
The National Security Council highlighted the direct impact of congressional delays on the situation in Avdiivka, stressing the importance of immediate House approval for additional Ukrainian aid.
Both Vice President Kamala Harris and President Zelensky have also urged Congress to expedite aid, with Harris criticizing the legislative holdup as detrimental to the support of an ally facing unprovoked aggression, during a news conference with Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference.
