Biden changes tone amid aid deadlock, says US will support Ukraine 'as long as we can'

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden moderated his tone on Tuesday, saying his administration will support Ukraine "as long as we can" amid congressional inaction on more funding.

Biden's administration has long committed to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes," but funding appropriated by lawmakers is set to run out by year's end.

Earlier Tuesday, the president announced a $200 million package to transfer arms from existing US stocks, but Biden said that without more funding from Congress, "we're rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has."

"Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine," he said during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"It's stunning that we've gotten to this point. You know, we need to fully appreciate how this is being viewed around the world and being used by Russia. Russia loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine aid last week," he added.

The president was referring to a vote in the US Senate last week in which Biden's request for supplemental aid to fund a host of national security priorities including Ukraine, Israel and border security failed to clear a procedural vote due to Republican opposition.

Congressional Republicans have so far blocked the passage of Biden's request, conditioning any support on a major tightening of US immigration policy that Democrats believe is a non-starter. The roughly $61.4 billion in Ukraine funding is part of the larger $110 billion bundle that has stalled in Congress.

It also includes an additional $10 billion for Israel on top of the nearly $4 billion in military assistance given to the US ally annually and provides funding for additional border security.

Ukrainian forces remain locked in fierce fighting with Russia and its proxies in eastern Ukraine in hopes of ousting Moscow's fighters from the occupied territory. But their counteroffensive has largely stalled in recent months as winter closes in.

Zelenskyy thanked the US for the assistance that has already been provided, lauding successes his forces have been able to make in the Black Sea region, where Ukrainian grain is now flowing after a defeated Russian naval blockade, and the re-capture of roughly half of all Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

"Today President Biden and I discussed how to increase our strengths for next year. First, air defense, and destroying Russian logistics on Ukraine's land. Mr. President, thank you very much for supporting us in these areas," he said.

"Like our victory in the Black Sea, we aim to win the air battle, crushing Russian air dominance. This will intensify our ground advances in 2024 with our control of the skies. Who controls the skies, controls the war's duration," he added.