[ad_1] “Of course, it’s clear that the war in the Middle East, this conflict, is taking away the focus,” Zelensky said in a press conference with EU
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“Of course, it’s clear that the war in the Middle East, this conflict, is taking away the focus,” Zelensky said in a press conference with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
Zelensky went on to claim the shifting of focus from Ukraine was “one of the goals” of Russia.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress want to promptly adopt military aid for Israel, a longstanding US partner, as conflict continues in Gaza.
Things get more complicated, however, when it comes to Ukraine. Washington is Kyiv’s biggest military backer, having committed tens of billions of dollars since Russia invaded in February 2022.
But Biden’s pledge of uninterrupted financial support, reiterated during Zelensky’s visit to Washington in September, looks to be in jeopardy.
In the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority, a few hard-line conservatives have demanded an immediate end to Ukraine funding.
The chamber is only just emerging from an unprecedented three-week paralysis after the previous Republican speaker was ousted in a rebellion by the same hard-line group.
The situation is drastically different in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where most Republicans have voiced support for boosting aid to Ukraine.
The sprawling frontline between the two warring sides has barely moved in almost a year, with one senior Ukrainian official warning this week that the conflict was deadlocked.
“Time has passed, people are tired … But this is not a stalemate,” Zelensky told a press conference in Kyiv with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.
The Ukrainian leader also rejected the idea Western countries were putting pressure on Kyiv to enter negotiations with Russia amid reports US and EU officials had discussed what such talks would entail.
“No one among our partners is pressuring us to sit down with Russia, talk to it, and give it something,” he said.
Biden has decided to couple his aid request for Ukraine — over $61 billion — with that for Israel, around $14 billion (A$21b).
“The idea that supporting the fight against Russian aggression detracts from other security priorities is false,” top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said recently.
Biden has also asked for some $9 billion (A$13b) to respond to international humanitarian crises, including in the Gaza Strip, while sweetening the deal for conservatives with billions of dollars requested for US border security and projects to counter China.
In total, the package amounts to $106 billion (A$162b).
– with AFP
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