Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his speech to the US Senate. Against this backdrop, there has been controversy over further aid to Ukraine

As speculated, the Ukrainian president’s speech at a closed conference for US senators may have supported the efforts of President Joe Biden’s administration, which since mid-October has been urging Congress to accept the White House’s request for an appropriation of $106 million. billion to support Ukraine and Israel, and other defense needs. Included in this package is more than PLN 60 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Ukrainian leader would not attend the conference due to an “urgent” matter he had to deal with. However, he did not disclose the details.

Earlier on Tuesday, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said that without further support from the United States, Ukraine poses a “high risk” of losing a war with Russia. – It is difficult to maintain the same conditions, it is difficult for people to live – he said in a speech at the American Peace Institute in Washington.

Later, Zelensky canceled his virtual appearance in the US Senate.

Already in early November, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned that about 96 percent of the more than $60 billion appropriated by Congress since the start of the war for military, economic and humanitarian aid to Kiev had been spent.

Read more: “We are really praying for American support.” Ukraine still needs arms supplies Funding for Ukraine has been one of the elements of a weeks-long dispute in the House of Representatives, leading to threats to not pass a budget. Shutdown (stopping operations of most US offices and federal agencies). Republicans in the chamber demanded cuts in spending, including aid to Kiev. As a result of these events, Mike Johnson replaced Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.

In late November, Johnson expressed “hope and hope” that Congress could send additional funds to aid Ukraine and Israel before the holiday break. However, he stressed that it would also include changes to immigration policy.

Jake Sullivan, the US president’s national security adviser, said on Monday that a bipartisan majority of Congress would support further aid to Ukraine – until an appropriate bill is voted on. However, no plan has yet been submitted because the two parties cannot agree on changes to asylum and immigration policy, which are part of a wider package of measures that would provide funding to Kyiv.

Sullivan said Congress faces the decision of whether to continue supporting Ukraine’s struggle for independence or let Putin win. – As part of the 50-nation coalition built by President Biden, Congress must decide whether to continue supporting the struggle for independence in Ukraine or ignore the lessons of history and allow Putin to succeed. It’s a simple choice, as Sullivan calls again on Congress to provide more than $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.

When asked if the management had a plan B if that didn’t happen, he denied it. – When we supply weapons to Ukraine, weapons from American sources,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ takes the money that Congress gives us and buys new weapons to replace what we gave, so it doesn’t affect our military readiness – he said. – If we run out of money, we cannot continue supplying Ukraine with weapons. That is what is at stake. There is no magic money, he explained.

U.S. President Joe Biden was asked by reporters on Tuesday whether he was involved in negotiations to provide financial aid to Ukraine.

“I’ve had many such conversations,” he replied. If the referendum on support for Ukraine fails, “it will be complete madness against the interests of the United States and the world,” he said. “That would be wrong,” he said. – Let’s get this help to Ukraine. We’ll sort it out, Biden promised.