(Washington) – Joe Biden invited congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday to urge them to continue US aid to Ukraine, which has currently been halted due to a failure between Republican and Democratic lawmakers on a financial extension.
A statement issued by the White House after the meeting said that the US President “was clear: Congress’ inability to act puts the security of the United States, NATO, and the rest of the free world at risk.”
But the 81-year-old Democrat, who has so far stayed away from parliamentary negotiations, indicated, according to the same source, “encouraging progress” in the ongoing discussions within one of the two chambers of Congress, namely the Senate, where the party has the majority.
It's another matter in the Republican-majority House.
“productive”
Its Conservative leader, Mike Johnson, said as he departed that the meeting had been “productive” and claimed he “understood the importance” of aid to Ukraine.
However, the Republican also declared that, in his view, this represents the “highest priority.” [était] The border with Mexico, where thousands of migrants arrive every day.
Photography by Leah Melis, Reuters
Mike Johnson
The US President is requesting $61 billion to continue military aid to Ukraine, but Republicans in the House of Representatives are demanding in return a clear tightening of his immigration policy.
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer estimated that the meeting about Joe Biden was “very positive” and called for resolving “at the same time” the immigration issue and the issue of aid to Ukraine, on the basis of bipartisan consensus.
He said he was “more optimistic than ever” about quickly reaching an agreement in the Senate that includes these two topics, but also aid to Israel and support for Taiwan, which are the US president's other strategic priorities.
Before the meeting, White House spokesman John Kirby spoke of “the urgent and urgent need to continue delivering weapons and equipment to Ukraine.”
December 27th
He pointed out that the last American aid was announced on December 27, “and there has not been another since then, and there will not be another until we obtain funding.”
Mike Johnson, who assumed the presidency of the House of Representatives in October under incredible circumstances, following the unprecedented dismissal of his predecessor by elected officials who supported Trump, plays a delicate role.
He reiterated Wednesday that he wants “answers to questions about strategy” in Ukraine and the “ultimate goal.”
Some far-right MPs do not want to hear about new aid to Ukraine, and may threaten to oust the speaker of parliament again if the latter acts with the support of elected democrats.
“The only way to resolve the border issue and the Ukraine issue […] It will be done by consensus between representatives of the two parties, for his part, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer confirmed.
The situation is also uncomfortable for Joe Biden, who is campaigning for a second term and who risks angering his more progressive supporters if he tightens immigration policy too much.
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