National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that the White House will ask the US Congress for additional funds to support Ukraine. He also reported that President Joe Biden was convincing his successor, Donald Trump, to maintain aid for Kiev.
During Wednesday's press briefing, after Joe Biden's meeting with Donald Trump in the White House, Jake Sullivan repeated earlier announcements that the administration intends to spend all aid funds allocated by Congress by the end of its term Ukraine.
“Therefore, it is rational that we will signal to Congress over the next two months that we would like to receive further funds to support Ukraine for 2025 so that it is in the strongest possible position to negotiate and achieve its goals,” Sullivan said.
National Security Advisor Jake SullivanAl Drago/PAP/EPA
However, the chances of passing a new money package for Ukraine seem slim, as House Speaker Mike Johnson has in recent days signaled that Congress has no “appetite” to pass more funds for Ukraine.
According to the New York Times, Johnson also allegedly assured a leading opponent of support for Kiev, Marjorie Taylor Greene, that Congress would not allocate more funds to Ukraine at a closed meeting of Republicans on Wednesday. This was supposed to be one of the conditions for the congresswoman's support for Johnson to maintain his position.
Competition with China will determine the future shape of the world
The current administration still has the authority to transfer approximately four billion dollars worth of military equipment to Ukraine.
Biden's adviser noted that during Wednesday's two-hour conversation between the president and his successor, the outgoing head of state tried to convince Trump of the importance of further support for Ukraine. Biden argued that it was in the best interest USAand Russian aggression threatens stability in Europe.
When asked what message Sullivan would convey to his successor, Mike Waltz, about threats and priorities for the future administration, the presidential adviser pointed primarily to the competition with China – emphasizing that it will determine the future shape of the world. He also mentioned the need to contain it Iran and its allies in the Middle East and Russia in Europe.
Main photo source: Al Drago/PAP/EPA