The United States government has increased its military involvement in Ukraine. This Thursday, President Joe Biden, in his meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, announced a new shipment of military aid to the country attacked by Russia worth $ 325 million, stating that the first Abrams Tanks are promised The beginning of the year will be in Kiev’s hands next week.
“Today I approved the new tranche of security assistance to Ukraine, which includes more artillery, more ammunition, more anti-tank weapons, and next week the first Abrams will be delivered to Ukraine,” Biden announced after a meeting alone with Zelensky and the launch of a second meeting, this time accompanied by their respective advisory teams.
“We are also focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to protect critical infrastructure that provides light and warmth on the coldest and darkest days of the year,” the US president added. Zelenskyy, in turn, thanked him for the new aid delivery, “exactly what our soldiers need now.”
The meeting and the new aid announcement came on a day that exposed differences between Democrats and the more conservative Republican group over U.S. aid to Ukraine. Although this hard wing is in the minority, the small Republican majority in the House of Representatives gives it disproportionate influence, as that chamber’s president, Kevin McCarthy, needs their votes to advance his initiatives; or even to assert one’s own position. And this faction is increasingly reluctant to approve aid for Ukraine as the war continues to drag on. The US government is seeking to approve a new $24 billion budget allocation for the invaded country, but lawmakers in that group have already expressed opposition.
When asked by both presidents about the prospects of Capitol Hill approving aid to Ukraine, Biden replied: “I’m counting on the common sense of Congress. “No alternative.”
The Democratic White House received the president and his wife Olena with all pomp in a ceremony on its portico – not in the South Gardens, since it was not a state visit – a prelude to a long meeting first with President Joe Biden alone and then surrounded by his advisers to discuss the conflict situation on the ground and the military, economic and humanitarian assistance from the United States to Kiev. “I am in Washington to strengthen our coalition in defense of Ukrainian families and children, our homes, freedom and democracy in the world,” Zelensky assured upon his arrival at the presidential residence.
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Immediately beforehand, the Pentagon discussed with Zelensky short- and long-term military needs, in particular the possible transfer of the ATACMS tactical missile systems, which Kiev says it urgently needs to ensure the success of its counteroffensive. “Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine and provided an overview of how U.S. security assistance is responding to Ukraine’s most urgent needs… both also addressing long-term needs,” a Defense Department statement said.
“Without help we will lose the war”
The Ukrainian President’s Day began with a visit to Congress. In the Senate, with a Democratic majority, the hundred representatives received him with honors to listen to his passionate call for continued US assistance in the conflict. “Zelensky told us: ‘If we stop receiving aid, we will lose the war,'” said the leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Democrat Charles Schumer, after the chamber’s plenary session with the Ukrainian president.
On the other hand, Republicans – with a majority in the House of Representatives – vetoed Zelensky from giving a speech to both houses of Congress, as he did during his previous visit in December, according to digital media Punchbowl News. In addition, hours before the Ukrainian leader’s visit, a group of conservative congressmen sent a letter to the White House calling on Washington to turn off the tap on aid to the country.
“How is the counteroffensive going? Are the Ukrainians closer to victory than they were six months ago? What is our strategy and what is the president’s exit plan? How does the government define victory in Ukraine? “Authorizing new funding without knowing the answers to these questions would be an absurd abdication of Congress’ responsibility,” the lawmakers stress.
Zelensky met with McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries, Republican committee chairmen and Democratic minority lawmakers, a visit he called “very important.” It must strengthen the support of both political parties in the United States, especially given the prospect of a long war and the presidential election in November 2024, the outcome of which could now change the political fortunes in the White House Democratic.
In the first year of the war, Zelensky’s appeal found a receptive ear among American lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, the United States has successively sent nearly $75 billion in military, economic and humanitarian aid packages to Kiev. But after Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives, the tide turned.
Frustrated by what they see as little progress in a war with no end in sight, the group of right-wing lawmakers are increasingly hesitant to approve new aid for a country they consider foreign and which they believe he has already had enough. They argue that this money should be invested in the United States to help American citizens.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Congress with Senate Majority Leader Democrat Charles Schumer (right) and Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (left) MICHAEL REYNOLDS (EFE)
The big challenge for him comes next week, when the 30th Congress must approve the budget measure allocating $24 billion to Ukraine or order the closure of government agencies due to a lack of funds. The Republican hardliner insists he will not agree to this order.
Republican cracks
Even in the Senate, the cracks among Republicans are obvious. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri said after a confidential briefing on Wednesday: “If there is a path to something that you can call a victory, I have never heard of it.” However, his counterpart, Senator Lindsey Graham, emphasized: ” If you were at that presentation and were convinced that what we are doing in Ukraine does not affect our national security interests in the world, you would have literally covered your ears.”
The US government insists it will continue its aid to Ukraine “with whatever it needs and for as long as necessary.” He believes that a defeat of Kiev would have serious consequences for his interests and those of his allies in the rest of the world, something Biden reiterated on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly. Washington refers, among other things, to a Russia at the gates of the European Union. But also to China, ensuring that Beijing closely monitors the United States’ behavior in Ukraine, which it sees as a roadmap for what would happen in the Pacific in the event of an attack on Taiwan.
“It is important that the new aid article is approved,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday. “If you think the cost of supporting Ukraine is already high, imagine how exorbitant it will be in terms of blood and finances if we just let it happen.” [al presidente ruso, Vladímir Putin] Take Ukraine. Then the cost of defending sovereignty and territorial integrity will be significantly higher in money and blood, including American blood.”
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