President Joe Biden stood subsequent to Ukraine’s chief on Tuesday, presenting a united entrance in opposition to Russia as they took questions from reporters.
“Should you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it may be time to rethink what you are doing, Biden mentioned of Republicans blocking his request to ship about $60 billion in assist to Ukraine.
The help from the President for a important ally was a marked distinction from hours earlier at a fundraiser, when Biden was publicly airing his frustrations about Israels management because the countrys bombing marketing campaign in Gaza seems to be shedding worldwide help.
They do not desire a two-state answer. They do not need something having to do with the Palestinians, Biden mentioned dismissively of the far right-wing coalition that introduced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to energy.
The 2 moments highlighted the balancing act for Biden, as he tries to induce Congress to cross a finances measure earlier than the top of the 12 months that features billions in assist for each Ukraine and Israel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had come to Washington to shore up funding for his countrys protection in opposition to Russias continued invasion, together with extra funds for ammunition and air protection of Ukraines capital Kyiv. However reasonably than flip the votes of skeptical Republicans in Congress to his aspect, he as a substitute discovered Ukraine’s trigger competing with debates over border funding and Israels endgame in Gaza.
Bidens pointed criticism of Netanyahu, his long-time frenemy, sucked up a lot of the eye in Washington on Tuesday. Netanyahu, Biden advised a room of about 100 marketing campaign donors on the Salamander Lodge in Washington, is main probably the most conservative authorities in Israel’s historical past, and has to vary.
Biden described a decades-old picture with Netanyahu that the Israeli Prime Minister displayed on his desk throughout his go to to Israel in October. On it, Biden had written years in the past, Bibi, I like you, however I do not agree with a rattling factor you need to say. Biden mentioned his emotions about Netanyahu are the identical at present. That is still to be the case.
Biden has drawn a distinction between his criticism of Netanyahu and his longtime help for the state of Israel. Throughout a Hanukkah celebration on the White Home on Monday evening, Biden mentioned his dedication to defend and help Israel is unshakable, and repeated a phrase hes used for many years, saying, You dont must be a Jew to be a Zionist. And I’m a Zionist.
Senate Republicans have held up assist to Israel and tied Bidens effort to increase U.S. army help to Ukraine whereas they demand modifications to immigration coverage on the U.S. border, together with shutting down authorized avenues the Biden Administration has used to confess some migrants.
My crew is working with Senate Democrats and Republicans to attempt to discover a bipartisan compromise each regarding modifications in coverage and to offer the sources we have to safe the border, Biden advised reporters. Compromise is how democracy works, and I am prepared and supplied to compromise already.
He added, Holding Ukraine funding hostage in an try to power by an excessive Republican Social gathering agenda on the border will not be the way it works.
Biden mentioned that solely a small variety of Republicans have been balking at assist for Ukraine and that he doesnt imagine they communicate for almost all of the GOP. “I am not making guarantees, however I am hopeful we are able to get there,” he mentioned, warning that not coming by for Ukraine with the army help it wants would ship a horrible message to our allies.
