Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen informed prime European financial leaders on Monday that the US wouldn’t again away from supporting Ukraine and pledged that the Biden administration would work to authorize extra support regardless of resistance from some congressional Republicans.
The feedback to a gathering of finance ministers in Luxembourg got here as concern mounts in Europe that political dysfunction in the US and a brand new battle within the Center East would deprive Ukraine of funding that it must maintain efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.
The Biden administration is pushing for Congress to take up an emergency help package deal that may pair assist for Ukraine and Israel, however its destiny stays extremely unsure. Legislative exercise within the Home has been at a standstill since Consultant Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, was ousted as speaker two weeks in the past.
Ms. Yellen reassured European officers {that a} bipartisan majority in Congress and throughout the US backed Ukraine funding.
“The Biden administration is dedicated to supporting Ukraine for so long as it takes,” she stated. “We’ll work with Congress to go a strong Ukraine package deal into legislation.”
Congress has authorised about $113 billion in funding for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. However final month, lawmakers allowed the emergency funds it had been sending to Ukraine to lapse amid dwindling Republican assist for such help.
At a information convention on Monday, Ms. Yellen stated the White Home would quickly submit a request for funding for Ukraine and Israel to Congress. She described the funding for Ukraine as President Biden’s “prime precedence,” including, “I completely consider that we’ll get this achieved.”
The administration was beforehand pursuing a $24 billion support package deal to assist Ukraine for the following few months, however it may search a much bigger package deal to keep away from one other showdown over the funding earlier than the 2024 election.
The European Union just lately authorised a three-year financing package deal for Ukraine price 50 billion euros, or about $53 billion, from 2024 to 2027. Officers have been watching anxiously as assist for Ukraine funding seems to be waning in the US.
Josep Borrell Fontelles, the highest E.U. diplomat, informed reporters earlier than a summit in Spain this month that the occasions in the US have been “not anticipated” and “not excellent news.”
“Ukraine wants the assist of the European Union,” he stated, “but additionally the assist of the U.S.”
On the information convention with Ms. Yellen, Paschal Donohoe, the president of the Eurogroup, stated he hoped that the US was aware that Europe was making a considerable contribution to serving to Ukraine.
“We, with confidence, can inform our pals and companions in America that we’re taking part in our half as we due to this fact ask them for his or her assist,” Mr. Donohoe stated, “to take care of and to guard values and beliefs which can be pricey to each of us.”
