WASHINGTON – President Biden on Thursday night called on Congress to approve billions in new funding for Ukraine and Israel in a rare speech from the Oval Office, saying “time is of the essence” to avoid even bigger wars in Europe and Middle East.
Biden did not specify how much he was seeking, but multiple reports indicated he intends to ask Congress for $60 billion in new assistance for Ukraine along with a more popular emergency request of $14 billion for Israel.
“American leadership is what holds the world together. “American alliances are what keep America safe,” Biden said, calling the package “a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations.”
“Tonight there are innocent people all over the world who wait because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us and who are waiting for us. But time is of the essence,” Biden said in just his second speech behind the Resolute desk as president.
“I know we have our divisions at home. We have to overcome them. We cannot allow politics and petty partisan anger to get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation. We cannot and will not allow terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin to win. “I refuse to allow that to happen.”
“Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they have something in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighboring democracy,” Biden added.
President Biden spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, ahead of a prime-time speech in the Oval Office in which he will reportedly seek $60 billion for Ukraine.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“History has taught us that when terrorists do not pay a price for their terror, when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos, death and more destruction.”
The final figures for Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists, who killed at least 1,400 people in an attack on October 7, rose just before the speech after the initial ask was set at just $10 billion (a sixth part of the petition for Kiev). earlier in the day.
Follow the Post’s coverage of Israel’s war against Hamas
Reuters and CBS News reported that the total spending request will be more than $100 billion and will include $10 billion for humanitarian aid, $14 billion for border security and $7 billion for the Indus region. -Peaceful.
A White House spokesperson told The Post that details of the requests underlying Biden’s speech would be made public on Friday morning.
The 80-year-old president visited Israel on Wednesday in a show of support and spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday afternoon before the speech.
Biden did not specify how much he was seeking, but multiple reports indicated he intends to ask Congress for $60 billion in new assistance for Ukraine along with a more popular emergency request of $14 billion for Israel.
Biden warned that Ukraine may be unable to stand on its own without US help despite the Kremlin’s stalled 20-month invasion.
“If we stand down and allow Putin to erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world will be emboldened to try the same thing,” the president said.
“If we do not stop Putin’s appetite for power and control in Ukraine, it will not be limited to just Ukraine. He has already threatened to “remind” Poland that its western land was a gift from Russia. One of his top advisers, a former president of Russia, has called Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania “Baltic provinces of Russia.” “These are all NATO allies.”
Biden’s attempt to get more funding for Ukraine by tying it with aid from Israel is controversial, and it is unclear whether Congress will approve the package in one piece as requested.
Biden said Hamas’ killing of hundreds of residents of communities near Gaza, including at least 32 Americans, and its kidnapping of some 200 hostages taken to Gaza “echo nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine”.
An unknown number of American citizens are among the hostages, 11 Americans remain missing, and Hamas has threatened to kill the hostages on camera in response to Israel’s anticipated military response.
The final figures for Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists, who killed at least 1,400 people in an attack on October 7, rose just before the speech after the initial ask was set at just $10 billion, a sixth part of the petition for Kiev. /AFP via Getty Images
“As I told the families of Americans held captive by Hamas, we are pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home,” Biden said in the Oval Office.
“Sadly, the Jewish people know perhaps better than anyone that there is no limit to the depravity of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I saw strong, determined, resilient people and also angry, shocked and in very, very deep pain.”
However, Biden added, “we cannot ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians.”
Biden warned that Ukraine may be unable to stand on its own without US help despite the Kremlin’s stalled 20-month invasion.
“The United States remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists do not immediately eliminate that,” he stated.
The aid proposal for Israel would be an “unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security that will sharpen Israel’s qualitative military advantage.”
“We will ensure that the Iron Dome continues to protect the skies over Israel. “We will make sure other hostile actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and we will prevent this conflict from spreading,” she said.
However, the plan angered Republican critics who argued that immediate aid is needed for Israel and that more oversight is needed for the $113 billion in Ukraine war funds already approved by Congress and still being distributed. . AFP via Getty Images
But the plan angered Republican critics who argued that immediate aid is needed for Israel and that more oversight is needed for the $113 billion in Ukraine war funds already approved by Congress and still being distributed.
Biden requested a meager $20.6 billion in new funding for Ukraine in August, but Congress resisted.
Nine Republican senators signed a letter first reported by The Post on Thursday asking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) , that they would consider aid to Ukraine and Israel separately.
Both McConnell and Schumer support continued funding for Ukraine, although Schumer, who returned Monday from a trip to Israel, said he wanted to process funds for the country “as quickly as possible” when asked by The Post on Sunday about the possibility of split the package.
Nine Republican senators signed a letter first reported by The Post on Thursday asking Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to consider aid to Ukraine and Israel for separate. Nathan Posner/Shutterstock
The House cannot immediately process the funding request because of an unresolved race to replace deposed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The House is expected to vote again early Friday on Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan’s candidacy after he fell short Tuesday and Wednesday.
Senators opposed to tying aid to Israel and Ukraine became increasingly strident in their objections on social media.
Senator JD Vance wrote: “Holding support for Israel and $60 billion more for Ukraine hostage is a slap in the face to our Israeli friends in their time of need.” Getty Images
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) tweeted“don’t hold Israel’s border security and aid hostage so the Swamp can give Ukraine a blank check.”
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) wrote, “Holding support for Israel and $60 billion more for Ukraine hostage is a slap in the face to our Israeli friends in their time of need.”
A CNBC poll released this week found that 74% of Americans support US military funding for Israel, while 61% said the same of military aid to Ukraine.
A CNBC poll released this week found that 74% of Americans support US military funding for Israel compared to 61% who said the same about military aid to Ukraine.ZUMAPRESS.com
Other polls estimated even lower support for kyiv.
A CNN poll in August found that 55% of Americans oppose Congress giving additional funds to Ukraine, including 71% of Republicans, 55% of independents and 38% of Democrats.
That poll found that 59% of women and 58% of non-whites oppose increased funding for Ukraine.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found that 41% of Americans said the United States “should provide weapons to Ukraine,” while 35% were opposed and 24% were unsure.
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