U.S. President Joe Biden intends to convince President-elect Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine and will urge Congress to continue funding Ukrainian aid after his presidency.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this in an interview with CBS, reports Voice of America. quoted The Voice of America
Is support for Ukraine a US priority?
According to Sullivan, Biden has 70 days to make a strong case to Congress and the new administration that withdrawing U.S. support for Ukraine could increase instability in Europe.
Sullivan also echoed the words of Japan's prime minister, who noted that Washington's refusal to help Ukraine would call into question the U.S. commitment to its allies in Asia.
By the end of Biden's presidency, the United States plans to provide Ukraine with the amount of aid already approved by Congress, including about $6 billion that is still available in the current budget. However, Sullivan did not specify whether Biden would go to Congress with new funding requests.
"President Biden will insist that additional resources are needed for Ukraine after his term is over, because the threat to the country will remain regardless of the situation on the battlefield or at the negotiating table. The United States must honor its commitments to Ukraine and to the coalition of more than 50 countries that have come together to support Ukraine in Europe and Asia," Sullivan added.
Biden's meeting with Trump
Biden and Trump are expected to meet on November 13 to discuss foreign policy priorities. At the same time, the Pentagon has about $4 billion left for the Presidential Authorization Program (PDA) for Ukraine and another $2 billion for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
According to Deputy Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with aid packages through the end of the Biden administration, including weapons that can be delivered to Ukraine within days or weeks.
Author: Inna Mikhno