Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday begged the United States to approve more military funding for his country, warning that without it Ukraine would “lose the war.”
Zelenskiy predicted that if Ukraine collapses, Russia will next move to invade “other countries.”
Congressional Republicans have been holding off on further military spending to Ukraine for months, noting that the United States has already spent well over $100 billion.
“We need to specifically tell Congress that if Congress doesn’t support Ukraine, Ukraine will lose the war,” Zelenskiy said in a video statement Sunday.
“If Ukraine loses the war, other countries will also be attacked,” he added.
Zelenskiy’s plea comes as Russia continues to launch missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, killing civilians and soldiers alike.
Members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and their allies are drawing a line in the sand ahead of what is expected to be a fierce battle between Republicans over additional aid to Ukraine.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) introduced a funding plan late last month, but Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said funding for Ukraine would be tied to other regions and It calls for a balance to be struck with spending cuts for Ukraine. It needs to be combined with changes to U.S. border policy.
“We cannot continue to borrow and spend money we don’t have on wars overseas without being able to protect the American people from Biden’s border invasion here at home,” Goode told Fox News Digital last week. Ta. “At a minimum, the military aid package to Ukraine should be fully offset and include HR2 with performance indicators to protect our country’s borders.”
If the Ukraine funding bill passes the House of Representatives, it will have a clearer path to passage through the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has already expressed support for additional aid to Ukraine.
