WASHINGTON – President Biden told House and Senate leaders in the Oval Office on Tuesday that there would be “dire” consequences if Congress does not pass $60 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine.
Biden spoke with leaders of both major political parties after weeks of rejecting House Speaker Mike Johnson’s requests for one-on-one talks to discuss America’s war aims and oversight of spending in notoriously corrupt areas. We had a meeting.
The meeting also comes ahead of a weekend deadline to avert a partial government shutdown, Johnson (R-Louisiana) told reporters on Tuesday.
“We have a lot of work to do. We have to find a way to keep the government funded. This is an important problem and an important solution we have to find. . And I think we can do it,” Biden said, along with Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Mitch. – Senate Minority Leader McConnell (Republican, Kentucky) spoke to Johnson.
The 81-year-old president, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, sat in front of a roaring fire in the Oval Office fireplace and read from notecards, even though the outside temperature exceeded 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
“And Ukraine, I think the need for that is urgent. I wish I could talk a little bit about that. And I think the consequences of inaction in Ukraine are dire. I’ve been talking to some of our G7 partners, , they are very concerned,” Biden said.
“We also have to deal with the Israeli part in additional respects. But there are also quite a few parts of it that have to do with humanitarian assistance in the Palestinian territories.
“We have to replenish Israel’s air defenses and try to ensure that Israel does not face the threat of what is happening in the Middle East, not only from Hamas but also from Iran.”
Mr. Biden added: “And the government funding, I think you’re all on top of it. But all kidding aside…the shutdown is going to be hugely damaging to the economy, and I think we can all agree on that. And I We need bipartisan solutions, and we want to hear from groups.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters as he left Parliament House for a meeting that he was confident there would be no partial government shutdown, which begins Friday at 11:59 p.m.
“We’re going to work to prevent that,” the Louisiana Republican said. “We will prevent a government shutdown.”
The Senate has already approved an additional $60 billion for Ukraine as part of a $95 billion foreign aid package, but Johnson has yet to convene it in the House of Commons.
Biden could send $4.4 billion in additional military aid to Ukraine, but has resisted doing so without Congress replenishing it with U.S. stocks.
Congress had previously earmarked $113 billion for Kiev’s defense in the largely deadlocked two-year conflict.
