Biden warns of Kremlin’s Influence as Ukraine funding hangs in the balance

President Joe Biden warns Congress that refusing to renew funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression would benefit the Kremlin

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden warned Congress that refusing to renew funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression would, in essence, benefit the Kremlin. Biden accused former President Donald Trump of politicizing national security issues in a stinging reprimand.

From the White House, Biden stressed that Ukraine was running out of time. “The clock is ticking,” he warned. Biden targetted Donald Trump, his anticipated opponent in the November elections, for trying to put pressure on Republican lawmakers to prevent the passage of a $118 billion bill aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military might in return for strict immigration policies, a key demand from the GOP.

“We cannot afford to abandon our support now. That’s precisely what Putin is counting on,” Biden asserted, framing the issue as a direct challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions. “Backing this bill equates to standing up against Putin. Opposing it only plays into his hands.” Biden further highlighted the immigration components embedded within the legislation, describing them as the “most rigorous set of border security reforms to date.”

While the Republicans have insisted that they will not renew aid to Ukraine unless it meets certain immigration stipulations, under Trump’s influence, the GOP has shown its unwillingness to work with Democrats in passing the bill. Biden cautioned that this position would undermine Ukraine’s ability to obtain critical weapons and ammunition as it readies for the third year of resistance against a full-scale Russian invasion.

Moreover, the stalemate implies that carefully brokered measures designed to strengthen the US-Mexico border and limit unauthorized immigration would be dropped after receiving initial bipartisan support from senior senators.

Source: AFP