Manchin warns Ukraine could be ‘worst atrocity in history’

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-Va.) urged Congress to pass aid to Ukraine, warning that a lack of aid could leave the beleaguered country facing “the worst atrocities in history.” .

Mr. Machin’s call to pass foreign aid comes as Ukraine’s military struggles with a lack of resources and further advances by Russian forces, and the bill has stalled in parliament.

“We can’t let Ukraine get into this situation into the spring, and if we don’t have the God of Ukraine helping us,” Manchin told Axios’ Nyala Voodoo during an appearance on Axios’ annual show on Tuesday. , we can’t let them go through this.” what is the next summit In Washington DC.

“It’s the worst atrocity we’ve ever committed, and your children and grandchildren will be reading it,” he said.

The Senate passed a foreign aid package last month that included $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) did not take up the bill, saying it lacked necessary border provisions.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pressed Johnson to pass the bill. President Biden and other foreign leaders are echoing similar messages as Mr. Johnson and other House members rush to avert a partial government shutdown scheduled for Friday. Johnson said he wanted to get the government funding first and then focus on passing a foreign aid package that also includes aid to Israel and Taiwan and increased funding for the southern border.

Mr. Manchin’s comments sound similar to those made by Democratic leaders in both chambers as supporters in Kyiv pressurize Congress to pass aid before the holidays.

The West Virginia senator is nearing the end of his final term in the Senate. He said last November that he would not seek re-election. Last month, he said he would not run for president.

But last week, CNN report Manchin said he had discussed the long-term idea of ​​entering the Senate race with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York before the August filing deadline.

“I think it’s a long, long, long scenario,” Manchin said. “So I don’t expect anything like that to happen. I have no plans to run.”

But when asked if this statement meant he was abandoning the idea completely, the moderate senator said, “I don’t know if anything in Washington, D.C., is 100%.” Ta.