Biden says opposing Ukraine funding is 'playing into Putin's hands'
Newsy
Hard-line Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump oppose the legislation.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday urgently called for House Republicans to bring a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to a vote, warning that refusal to take up the bill, passed overnight in the morning by the Senate, would be "playing into Putin’s hands.”
“Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin," President Biden said, raising his voice in strong comments from the White House.
But the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hard-line Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation. Speaker Mike Johnson has cast new doubt on the package and made clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Biden’s desk — if at all.
The monthslong push to approve the $60 billion in Ukraine aid that is included in the package has exposed growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.
President Biden also lashed out at Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination who on Saturday said during a campaign appearance that he once warned he would allow Russia to do whatever it wants to NATO member nations that are “delinquent” in devoting 2% of their gross domestic product to defense.
