WASHINGTON – President Biden asked Congress to approve billions in new funding for Ukraine and Israel in a rare speech from the Oval Office, saying “time is of the essence” to prevent a bigger war in Europe and the Middle East.
Biden has not said how much he is seeking, but some reports indicate he intends to ask Congress for $60 billion in new Ukraine aid along with the more popular $14 billion emergency request for Israel.
“American leadership is what unites the world. America’s alliances are what keep America safe,” Biden said, calling the package “a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations.”
“Tonight there are innocent people all over the world who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us and are waiting for us. But time is of the essence,” Biden said in just his second speech from behind the Resolute desk as president.
“I know we have our share at home. We have to get past them. We cannot let partisan rage and petty politics get in the way of our responsibility as a great nation. We cannot and will not let terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like Putin win. I refuse to let that happen.”
“Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share one thing in common: they both want to completely destroy their neighboring democracies,” Biden added.
President Biden spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, ahead of his inaugural Oval Office speech in which he will reportedly seek $60 billion for Ukraine.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay the price for their violence, when dictators don’t pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.”
The final figure for Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists, who killed at least 1,400 people in the October 7 rampage, was pushed higher shortly before the speech after initial requests were set at just $10 billion – one-sixth of the request for Kyiv – earlier in the day.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Israel’s war with Hamas
Reuters and CBS News reported that the total spending request would exceed $100 billion and include $10 billion for humanitarian aid, $14 billion for border security and $7 billion for the Indo-Pacific region.
A White House spokeswoman told The Post that details of the request supporting Biden’s speech would be announced Friday morning.
The 80-year-old president visited Israel on Wednesday in a show of support and spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday afternoon before the speech.
Biden has not said how much he is seeking, but some reports indicate he intends to ask Congress for $60 billion in new Ukraine aid along with the more popular $14 billion emergency request for Israel.AP
Biden warned that Ukraine may not be able to stand on its own without US help despite the Kremlin’s 20-month stalled invasion.
“If we go and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world will dare to try the same thing,” the president said.
“If we don’t stop Putin’s desire for power and control in Ukraine, he will not limit himself only to Ukraine. He is already threatening to ‘remind’ Poland that their western lands are a gift from Russia. One of his key advisers, a former Russian president, has called Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania the ‘Baltic regions of Russia.’ These are all NATO allies.”
Biden’s attempt to win more funding for Ukraine by tying it to Israeli aid is controversial and it is unclear whether Congress will pass the package in one piece as requested.
Biden said Hamas’ killing of hundreds of residents of communities near Gaza, including at least 32 Americans, and its kidnapping of some 200 hostages brought to Gaza “revealed nearly 20 months of war, tragedy and brutality inflicted on the people of Ukraine. “
An unknown number of US citizens are among the hostages, with 11 Americans still missing, and Hamas has threatened to kill the hostages on camera in response to an expected Israeli military response.
The final figure for Israel’s fight against Hamas terrorists, who killed at least 1,400 people in the Oct. 7 rampage, was pushed higher shortly before the speech after initial requests were set at just $10 billion, one-sixth of the request for Kyiv.POOL /AFP via Getty Images
“As I told the families of Americans detained by Hamas, we are pursuing every avenue to bring their loved ones home,” Biden said in the Oval Office.
“Sadly, Jews probably know better than anyone that there are no limits to the evil of people when they want to inflict pain on others. In Israel, I see people who are strong, determined, resilient and also angry and shocked and in deep pain.”
However, Biden added, “we cannot ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians.”
Biden warned that Ukraine may not be able to stand on its own without US help even if the Kremlin’s 20-month invasion stalls.AP
“The United States remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. The terrorist actions of Hamas do not take immediate action,” he said.
The aid proposal for Israel would be an “unprecedented commitment to Israel’s security that would sharpen Israel’s qualitative military advantage.”
“We will ensure that the Iron Dome continues to guard the sky above Israel. We will keep other hostile actors in the region and know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this conflict from spreading,” he said.
However the plan has baffled Republican critics who argue that aid for Israel is urgently needed and more oversight is needed for the $113 billion in Ukrainian war funding that Congress has approved and is still disbursing. AFP via Getty Images
But the plan has baffled Republican critics who argue that aid for Israel is urgently needed and that more oversight is needed for the $113 billion in Ukrainian war funding that Congress has approved and is still setting aside.
Biden in August asked for a little more than $20.6 billion in new funding for Ukraine, but Congress refused.
Nine GOP senators signed a letter first reported by The Post Thursday calling on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to consider aid to Ukraine and Israel separately.
Both McConnell and Schumer support continued funding for Ukraine, although Schumer, who returned Monday from a trip to Israel, said he wanted to process funds for the country “as quickly as possible” when asked by The Post Sunday about the possibility of splitting the package.
Nine GOP senators signed a letter first reported by The Post Thursday calling on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to consider aid to Ukraine and Israel separately.Nathan Posner/Shutterstock
The funding request could not be immediately processed by the House of Representatives because of the unresolved speaker race to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) who was fired.
The House is expected to vote again early Friday on the nomination of Rep. Ohio Jim Jordan after he failed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Senators opposed to linking aid to Israel and Ukraine grew louder in their objections on social media.
Senator JD Vance wrote, “Holding support for Israel hostage to $60 billion more for Ukraine is a slap in the face to our Israeli friends in their time of need.”
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) tweeted“don’t hold Border security and Israeli aid hostage so Paya can give Ukraine a blank check.”
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) writing, “Holding support for Israel hostage to $60 billion more for Ukraine is a slap in the face to our Israeli friends in their time of need.”
A CNBC poll released this week found that 74% of Americans support US military funding for Israel while 61% say the same about military aid to Ukraine.
A CNBC poll released this week found that 74% of Americans support US military funding for Israel compared to 61% who say the same about military aid to Ukraine.ZUMAPRESS.com
Other polls measure lower support for Kyiv.
An August CNN poll found that 55% of Americans oppose Congress providing additional funding to Ukraine — including 71% of Republicans, 55% of independents and 38% of Democrats.
The poll found that 59% of women and 58% of non-whites oppose more funding for Ukraine.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found 41% of Americans said the US “should provide weapons to Ukraine,” while 35% were opposed and 24% were unsure.
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