President Biden warned on Tuesday that Russia was celebrating American division over offering assist to Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky hit a wall of resistance from congressional Republicans throughout a daylong lobbying blitz in Washington.
Talking from the White Home with Mr. Zelensky by his facet, Mr. Biden mentioned failing to help Ukraine can be a present to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
“Putin is banking on the USA failing to ship for Ukraine,” Mr. Biden mentioned on the White Home. “We should, we should, we should show him flawed.”
Republican leaders in Congress have insisted that any assist for Ukraine be paired with tighter safety on the southern border, arguing that the migrant disaster had grow to be a risk to nationwide safety.
However even Republican supporters of extra assist for Ukraine appeared to have given up a lot hope of approving it earlier than Congress heads residence for the vacations.
Senator Mitch McConnell, the highest Republican, urged that the hassle was all however lifeless for the 12 months, saying it could be “virtually unattainable” to rapidly go a deal that ties collectively assist for Ukraine with the sort of border safety package deal that Republicans are demanding.
The trouble by the 2 leaders comes at what could also be Ukraine’s most weak level within the conflict because it beat again Russia’s preliminary invasion within the winter and spring of 2022. Whereas the USA has offered tens of billions of {dollars} in assist since then, Ukraine’s prime army commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, mentioned final month that the conflict had reached a stalemate, as lethal battles yielded few territorial positive aspects.
The White Home and Kyiv have argued that if Ukraine loses the conflict, Mr. Putin will probably be emboldened to advance his army aggression deeper into the West.
Mr. Biden accused Republicans of holding army assist to Ukraine “hostage” in change for “an excessive Republican partisan agenda on the border.” He cited the feedback of Russian broadcasters praising Republicans for refusing to approve the Ukraine help.
“This host of a Kremlin-run present mentioned: ‘Effectively performed, Republicans. That’s good for us,’” Mr. Biden advised reporters at a quick information convention. “Should you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it is likely to be time to rethink what you’re doing. Historical past, historical past will decide harshly those that flip their again on freedom’s trigger.”
The probabilities of Congress passing an help package deal for Ukraine earlier than the tip of the 12 months have grown bleak, after Republicans blocked the measure final week and polls confirmed People have been skeptical of extending monetary assist.
Senators immediately concerned within the negotiations reported some progress, however there was no signal {that a} deal was imminent.
Mr. Biden on Tuesday, nevertheless, sought to current an air of confidence about his chief international coverage targets. He mentioned his prime aides have been working towards “a bipartisan compromise” that might fulfill each side.
“We additionally want Congress to repair the damaged immigration system right here at residence,” Mr. Biden mentioned in a nod to Republicans.
After assembly behind closed doorways with Mr. Biden on the White Home, Mr. Zelensky thanked the USA for coming to Ukraine’s assist, however mentioned the help should proceed.
“It’s essential that by the tip of this 12 months we will ship very sturdy sign of our unity to the aggressor and the unity of Ukraine, America, Europe, your complete free world,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned.
Left intentionally imprecise on the information convention was any estimate of how lengthy the present price range for arms for Ukraine can final. Mr. Biden signed off on a $200 million supply in the course of the go to, utilizing funds from previous congressional appropriations. However the dimension and frequency of the American-provided arms provide have diminished.
Quietly, American officers are on the lookout for different choices if Congress fails to behave, from emergency allocations licensed by Mr. Biden to seizing Russian belongings caught within the West and utilizing them for armaments.
Senior American officers have had appreciable frustration coping with Mr. Zelensky and his generals. They’ve been urgent for a brand new technique, one they will inform Congress will flip the tide. Mr. Zelensky, one official mentioned final week, was evolving towards an method that centered on the protection of Kyiv, protections round key industrial facilities and a pathway to the Black Sea to increase grain exports.
These choices are being war-gamed in Germany this month and subsequent, in hopes of developing with an method for 2024 that would cut back the horrific bloodshed and go away Mr. Zelensky in a stronger negotiating place.
In Washington, Speaker Mike Johnson accused the White Home of failing to articulate a transparent path to Ukraine’s victory, which Republicans have additionally mentioned is a mandatory situation to unlocking army assist. Mr. Johnson has voted repeatedly in opposition to aiding Ukraine.
There was no signal that the go to by Mr. Zelensky — who only a 12 months in the past acquired a hero’s welcome from Congress — had performed something to interrupt the deadlock over assist.
“Our first situation on any nationwide safety supplemental spending package deal is about our personal nationwide safety,” Mr. Johnson advised reporters shortly after noting that he had “reiterated” to Mr. Zelensky that “we stand with him in opposition to Putin’s brutal invasion.”
Throughout Mr. Zelensky’s assembly with senators, a variety of Republicans advised him immediately that securing the U.S. border with Mexico was the important thing to acquiring assist for his nation.
“I advised President Zelensky, ‘Right here’s the issue: It’s bought nothing to do with you,’” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, advised reporters after the session.
Congressional leaders are toying with the concept of making an attempt to maintain Congress in session subsequent week to maintain making an attempt to hash out a deal on Ukraine funding and border safety. However it’s unclear if one other few days will probably be sufficient time to strike such a cut price.
“They are saying it’s an emergency at each the border and in Ukraine?” Senator Chuck Schumer, the bulk chief, advised reporters. “You don’t go residence for 3 weeks. You don’t say ‘we will put it off for 3 weeks’ if it’s an emergency.”
The White Home additionally appeared to grow to be extra immediately concerned in negotiations, dispatching White Home officers and the homeland safety secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to satisfy with negotiators on Capitol Hill.
However Congress appeared no nearer to reaching consensus on an settlement that features immigration, one of the contentious points in the USA. Whereas the White Home has signaled help for some asylum restrictions, Republicans are additionally pushing to increase fast deportations nationwide.
At a information convention on Tuesday, Senator Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington, mentioned her celebration wouldn’t comply with “a partisan want checklist of everlasting, far-right overhauls to immigration coverage.”
“It sends a harmful message when one-half of the Senate is concentrated on pitting allies and crises in opposition to one another as political bargaining chips,” she mentioned.
Kayla Guo, Robert Jimison and David E. Sanger contributed reporting.
