Current:Home > ScamsBlinken promises Ukraine's leader "enduring" U.S. support as war with Russia nears 2-year mark-LoTradeCoin
Blinken promises Ukraine's leader "enduring" U.S. support as war with Russia nears 2-year mark
View Date:2024-12-23 23:50:24
Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised sustained U.S. support for Ukraine in a meeting Tuesday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite a row in the U.S. Congress on approving new funding.
"We are determined to sustain our support for Ukraine and we're working very closely with Congress in order to work to do that. I know our European colleagues will do the same thing," Blinken told Zelenskyy as they met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Biden administration has struggled to get Congress to approve a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine in the face of opposition from Republican lawmakers.
U.S. funding for Ukraine locked up in Congress
President Biden's request for the Ukraine aid, part of a $106 billion foreign aid package, has been stalled for weeks amid demands from Republicans — including many supportive of the Ukraine assistance — that it include strict new border security provisions and changes to U.S. immigration policy.
Negotiations continue, but the White House warned before Christmas that the U.S. would run out of funding to assist Ukraine by the end of 2023 if more was not approved, with Mr. Biden warning that if the funding wasn't approved, it would be the "greatest Christmas gift" for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Given former President Donald Trump's bid to return to the White House with the U.S. elections in November, and his previous remarks suggesting some level of trust in Putin, Zelenskyy has been keen to stress to American politicians the importance of U.S. assistance as his country tries to fend off Russia's ongoing invasion.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan had both discussed with Zelenskyy in Davos "the importance of continued global assistance to support Ukraine as it fights for its freedom and sovereignty" and "strongly reiterated the United States' enduring support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity in the face of Russia's illegal war of aggression."
European funding for Ukraine blocked by Hungary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said Ukraine's allies need to guarantee stable backing for Kyiv as questions swirl over future support from not only the United States, but the European Union.
"Ukraine can prevail in this war. But we must continue to empower their resistance," the head of the EU's executive arm told the Davos forum. "Ukrainians need predictable financing throughout 2024 and beyond. They need a sufficient and sustained supply of weapons to defend Ukraine and regain its rightful territory."
EU leaders will hold a summit on Feb. 1 to try to overcome a block from Hungary on providing 50 billion euros ($54.5 billion) in financial aid to Ukraine over the next four years.
The government in Kyiv desperately needs the funds to prop up its economy and keep services working as Russia's all-out war heads toward the start of its third year.
Budapest — Moscow's closest ally in the 27-nation EU — has signaled that it could agree to the aid if it is given the chance each year to veto further payments. EU officials say that if they cannot win over Hungary, the other 26 member states will look to provide cash outside the EU's budget, but this would likely be for a shorter timeframe.
Despite the concerns over funding and Ukraine's failure to make a breakthrough on the battlefield, von der Leyen said Russia was still "failing on strategic goals" with its war.
"Russia has lost roughly half of its military capabilities. Ukraine has driven Russia out of half the territories it had captured. Ukraine has pushed back Russia's Black Sea Fleet," she said. "Russia's failure is also economic. Sanctions have decoupled its economy from modern technology and innovation. It is now dependent on China."
- In:
- Antony Blinken
- United States Congress
- War
- Joe Biden
- Ukraine
- Donald Trump
- Russia
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
veryGood! (14225)
Related
- Richard Allen found guilty in the murders of two teens in Delphi, Indiana. What now?
- Scientists claim remarkable evidence that ancient human relatives buried their dead 240,000 years ago
- Stretch of Venice's Grand Canal mysteriously turns phosphorescent green
- Microsoft president Brad Smith on real concern about Chinese malware targeting critical infrastructure
- Florida education officials report hundreds of books pulled from school libraries
- Dancing With the Stars’ Carrie Ann Inaba Shares She Had Emergency Appendectomy
- Khloe Kardashian Responds to Critic Asking If She Misses Her “Old Face”
- Coach Outlet Just Dropped the Price on This $250 Bestselling Crossbody Bag to $79
- Gisele Bündchen Makes First Major Appearance Since Pregnancy
- Sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning Are Polar Opposites in Rare Red Carpet Appearance Together
Ranking
- Caitlin Clark shanks tee shot, nearly hits fans at LPGA's The Annika pro-am
- Don’t Miss Jaw-Dropping GHD Hair Tool Deals: Dryers, Curling Irons, Flat Irons, Hot Brushes, and More
- Ukraine says Russia blew up major dam from inside, endangering thousands of people and a nuclear plant
- Joran van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway murder suspect, severely beaten in Peru prison, lawyer says
- Congress heard more testimony about UFOs: Here are the biggest revelations
- Tom Parker’s Wife Kelsey Pays Tribute to The Wanted Singer One Year After His Death
- North Korea says first spy satellite crashes into sea after launch, admits failure
- Veteran journalist shot dead while leaving his home in Mexico
Recommendation
-
Britney Spears Reunites With Son Jayden Federline After His Move to Hawaii
-
Lala Kent Shares Details on Explosive Vanderpump Rules Reunion Taping
-
Tearful Melissa Joan Hart Recalls Helping Children Get to Safety Amid Nashville School Shooting
-
Pete Davidson Shares Exactly How Many Women He's Dated in the Last 10 Years
-
Guns smuggled from the US are blamed for a surge in killings on more Caribbean islands
-
Biden sex assault accuser Tara Reade asks for Russian citizenship
-
JoJo Siwa's Ex Katie Mills Reacts to Clout Chasing and Love Bombing Accusations
-
Why Adam Sandler Is “Psyched” for Jennifer Aniston’s Future Partner