Joe Biden says US will have funds for Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’

President Joe Biden dismissed fears of US aid to Kiev by Republicans on Capitol Hill, citing Washington’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine at a press conference with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Responding to a question from the Financial Times, Biden said he believed the US “will have the money needed to support Ukraine for as long as it takes . . . even if you’re on Capitol Hill today.” Some voices are heard asking whether we should support Ukraine or not and for how long.

His comments came after Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy asked whether he would support a separate funding bill for Ukraine aid and other military spending. Maintaining strong US support for Ukraine will require supplementary legislation later this year as $45bn for the country enacted late last year begins to expire. Government spending limits imposed in the recent deal to raise the debt ceiling did not allocate funds specifically for Ukraine.

“I’m not going to be prejudiced about some of them (in the Senate), but if they think they’re writing a supplemental (spending bill) because they want to get around an agreement that we just made, It’s not going anywhere, McCarthy told Punchbowl News.

McCarthy’s stance is in line with many Senate Republicans and several Democrats who think additional Pentagon funding will require legislation. If it doesn’t agree, lawmakers would have to cut military spending elsewhere to boost Ukraine aid – which could turn this into a far more fraught process.

As well as discussing more short-term needs related to Ukraine, which is launching a counteroffensive to reclaim territory captured by Russian troops, Sunak also called for long-term security arrangements to be made to protect the country from allies. has invoked. But the White House has been cautious about making specific commitments.

“We are furthering this goal by giving them the support Ukraine needs on the battlefield now, and helping strengthen their military for the long term,” Biden said.

Ahead of the next NATO summit in Lithuania in July, Biden left open the possibility that Britain’s defense secretary, Ben Wallace, could be the next head of NATO, though he did not strongly endorse it.

Asked whether it was time for a British Secretary-General, he said: “Maybe. It remains to be seen.”

Biden said that a consensus has to be reached within the organization regarding the new leader.

“They have a candidate who is a very qualified person, but we are having a lot of discussion among us at NATO to determine what the outcome will be.”

The new NATO Secretary-General will assume the role next year after Jens Stoltenberg steps down after nearly a decade in the role. Stoltenberg is scheduled to visit Washington early next week.