Ukrainians campaign for arms: Republicans give Selenskyj a cold reception

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Republicans give Zelensky a cold reception

December 12, 2023, 8:51 pm

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Ukrainian President Zelensky’s third visit to Washington was different from his first two. Instead of speaking to Congress, he meets with senators behind the scenes. Republicans in particular are very cautious.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to Washington for urgently needed US military aid for his country under attack by Russia, but it has fallen on deaf ears among key decision-makers. Mike Johnson, the Republican leader of the US House of Representatives, made clear statements after his meeting with Zelensky: The Biden administration is demanding that Congress release billions for Ukraine, but has not presented a clear strategy on how the country will support the war. To win. There should be clarity about what happens to the money in Ukraine and how spending should be monitored. Meanwhile, Zelensky is running out of time.

The release of new US aid to Ukraine is currently blocked by a row in the US Congress. And Republicans express doubts about supporting Ukraine or rejecting it altogether. US President Joe Biden’s Democratic majority, on the other hand, is campaigning for renewed support for Ukraine – but lacks the majority needed to get it through parliament alone. The clock is ticking as the US government says the funds approved so far will be used by the end of the year.

And help is on the horizon

Johnson, the speaker of the House of Representatives, insisted that national security should come first in all spending. He again described the situation on the US southern border with Mexico as an “absolute disaster”. US Republicans want to tie more aid to Ukraine with new funding for border security. Johnson made it clear that the House of Representatives could go on a Christmas recess before voting on new aid to Ukraine. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, while a staunch supporter of Ukraine, has made it clear that the release of aid must be tied to investments in border security.

US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke of a “powerful meeting” with Zelensky. During a closed-door conversation with senators, Zelensky explained in great detail what kind of help he needed and how it would help Ukraine succeed. He also made it clear that a Putin victory would be “very, very dangerous for America.”

In the afternoon (local time) there is a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House. This was Zelensky’s third visit to Washington since the beginning of the Russian War of Aggression. It was a stark contrast to his trip to the US capital a year ago. At that time, he addressed both houses of Congress and was hailed as a hero.