U.S. national security to be “harmed” if Congress fails to approve Ukraine, Israel aid - Sullivan

14.11.2023 05:39

Ukrinform

U.S. Congress should approve the President's supplemental funding request, which includes aid to Ukraine and Israel, as soon as possible, as a failure to do so directly affects U.S. national interests.

This was stated on Monday during a briefing in Washington by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports.

"“The Biden administration put forward a funding request for Israel for Ukraine for the Indo-Pacific and for the border, we detailed exactly what we needed including for Ukraine and we still need that and we need it as soon as we can get it," said the adviser.

He emphasized the administration’s active work with Republicans and Democrats in both houses of the US Congress to ensure support for the initiative.

"I am on the phone personally daily with members, both Democrats and Republicans, to make the case," Sullivan said.

Commenting on the situation of the support to Ukraine, he emphasized that without the approval of a new large-scale package in Congress, the U.S. possibilities are decreasing by week. It already affects the ability to give Ukraine everything it needs, and this effect will only increase over time, said Sullivan.

In this context, he noted that a strong majority remains in place in both chambers to approve the request filed by the U.S. president. According to him, "the United States national interest will be deeply harmed if we are not able to secure and sustain funding for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo Pacific and the border."

Sullivan also warned Congress against bringing the situation to a government shutdown that threatens the country after October 17. He noted that such a development could deal a devastating blow, first of all, to the American military, which protects the interests of the U.S. national security.

In addition, he said, a potential shutdown would send a signal to the international community “that the United States cannot pull together on a bipartisan basis to sustain government funding to show a united face to the world at a moment where you see this turbulence around the world.”

As Ukrinform reported earlier, last week the Pentagon said the United States would continue to allocate defense aid packages to Ukraine within the limits of Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) in the near future. At the same time, the Department of Defense admitted that they were forced to reduce the amount of defense aid to Ukraine.