Ukraine war - The clock is ticking: Selenskyj fights for US aid in Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has asked Washington for urgently needed US military aid for his country, which is under attack from Russia, but has apparently fallen on deaf ears with key decision-makers.
The Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, was clear after his meeting with Zelensky: the Biden administration is asking parliament to release billions for Ukraine, but is not presenting a clear strategy as to how the country intends to win the war with this support. There needs to be clarity about what is being done with the money in Ukraine and how the spending should be monitored. Meanwhile, time is running out for Zelensky.
The release of new US aid for Ukraine is currently being blocked by a dispute in the US parliament. More and more Republicans are expressing doubts about support for Ukraine or rejecting it altogether. The majority of US President Joe Biden's Democrats, on the other hand, are in favor of new support for Ukraine - but do not have the necessary majority to get it through parliament on their own. The clock is ticking, because according to the US government, the funds approved so far will be used up by the end of the year.
Further aid is on the brink
The Chairman of the House of Representatives, Johnson, has now emphasized that national security must come first in all spending. He once again described the situation on the USA's southern border with Mexico as an "absolute catastrophe". The US Republicans want to link the release of further aid for Ukraine to new funds for border protection. Johnson made it clear that the House of Representatives could well go on Christmas vacation before a vote on new Ukraine aid.
The Republican minority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, also made it clear that although he is a staunch supporter of Ukraine, the release of aid must be linked to investments in border protection.
By contrast, the Democratic majority leader in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, spoke of a "powerful meeting" with Zelensky. During the meeting with senators behind closed doors, Zelensky explained in great detail what kind of help he needed and how it would help Ukraine to win. He also made it clear that a Putin victory would also be "very, very dangerous for the United States".
In the afternoon (local time), US President Joe Biden wanted to receive Zelensky at the White House. It is Zelensky's third visit to Washington since the start of the Russian war of aggression. It stands in stark contrast to his trip to the US capital a year ago. Back then, he was able to give a speech to both chambers of Congress and was celebrated like a hero.
New US sanctions
Meanwhile, the US government announced new sanctions against Russia. According to the US State Department, "more than 250 individuals and entities" are affected. Affected are several networks "used by Russia to circumvent sanctions, numerous suppliers from third countries to the Russian military industry and other Russian financial institutions". As a result of the sanctions, any assets of those affected in the USA are generally frozen. US citizens or people who are in the United States are prohibited from doing business with the sanctioned companies and individuals.
Selensky had already made several appointments yesterday. Among others, he also met the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. In a speech at a university, he warned that Putin was destroying the lives of people in Ukrainian cities, but that his real goal was freedom. "You can count on Ukraine, and we hope we can count on you too."
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Mike Johnson, the Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives, highlighted the Biden administration's request for billions in aid for Ukraine, but criticized the lack of a clear strategy on how to win the Ukraine war with this support. The Republicans in the US parliament are expressing doubts about supporting Ukraine, while Joe Biden's Democrats are in favor but lack the necessary majority. Mike Johnson suggested linking new aid for Ukraine to funds for border protection. Mitch McConnell, the Senate's Republican minority leader, agreed that aid should be tied to border protection investments. In contrast, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, praised a "powerful meeting" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and emphasized the danger of a Putin victory for the USA. Mike Johnson also met with Zelensky, emphasizing national security needs, and linked further aid to Mexico's border situation. Meanwhile, Zelensky sought support in Washington, warning that Putin's real goal was freedom and expressing hope for international support.
Source: www.stern.de
